UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



A CONSECRATED LIFE: 



PORTRAITURE OF 

REV. EDWIN DELMONT KELLEY, 

MISSIONARY IN BURMAH. 



BY HIS WIFE. , 






. /- 



INTRODUCTION BY 

ALVAH HOVEY, D. D., LL.D., 

President of Newton Theological Institution. 



J.kk.ll. 

BOSTON: 
D.LOTHROP AND COMPANY. 

FRANKLIN ST., CORNER OF HA.WLKW 



. ffa fa 




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by 

JENNIE B. KELLEY, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



PREFACE, 



r I ^HE preparation for the press of the following volume 
-*- was entered upon with great reluctance by the Compiler. 
It was undertaken at the solicitation of friends, but more 
especially with the conviction that it was a duty imposed by 
the Master himself. 

As it was impossible to erect over that lonely grave, in 
the distant heathen Shan country, even an unpretending stone that 
should mark the resting place, and perpetuate the memory of 
him who gave himself so heartily to the work of carrying the 
Gospel to the benighted Shans — it was thought best to have 
some Memorial of him that should be undisturbed by heathen 
violence, and such as God could use in carrying on his own 
work in the hearts of his people. 

This imperfect and meagre sketch of his consecrated life 
is submitted to the Christian public, with the earnest prayer that, 

(iii.) 

y 



IV. PREFACE. 

in the perusal of its pages, some may become more interested in 
the heathen in Burmah and the Shan States, and thereby be 
stirred to give of their means or themselves for their evan- 
gelization. 

And if any readers shall be incited to greater consecration 
to Him who ransomed them by His precious blood, the object 
for which the work was undertaken will have been accom- 
plished, and grateful praise shall be given to Him who directed 
its preparation. J. B. K. 

Boston, Dec. 18th, 1575. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Childhood. — Conversion. — School Days at — 
Rutland. — Life in College.- — Baptism. — 
Death of his brother Eugene. — Thoughts 
of becoming a Missionary 13 

CHAPTER II. 

Graduates from College. —Dennison Univer- 
sity. — Letters to his Parents. — Reminis- 
cences from Fellow Teachers 29 

CHAPTER III. 

Enters Newton. — Theological Studies. — Be- 
ing led by the Spirit. — Living unto Christ. — 

(v.) 



VI. CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 



At Home. — Return to Newton. — The 
Christian's Warfare 46 

CHAPTER IV. 

Pastoral Work. — Inquirers. — Converts. — A 
Sabbath Day in Salem. — Thoughts of 
Future Work 72 

CHAPTER V. 

Appointment as a Missionary. — Declines the 
work of the Rangoon College. — Grace vic- 
torious over Death. — Filling up the Time. — 
True Missionary Spirit. — Designation to 
the Shan Mission 90 

CHAPTER VI. 

Graduates from Newton. — Marriage. — Ordi- 
nation. — Farewell Services at Boston. — 
Sails for Burmah. — Storm at Sea. — Man 
Lost. — Arrival in England. — Spurgeon. 
Westminster Abbey. — Fmbarks on the 
Steamship "Niger" bound for Calcutta. — 
Bay of Biscay. — Gibraltar . .'■-'-. . . 105 

CHAPTER VIL 

The Beauties of the Deep. — Storm on the 
Mediterranean. — Sailor Lost. — Arrival 



CONTENTS. Vll. 

PAGE. 

at Malta. — Port Said, Egypt. — Suez 
Canal. — Mount Sinai. — Horeb. — Bed 
Sea. — Prayer-meeting in the Forecastle. — 
Arrival at Ceylon. — Madras. — Calcutta. — 
Akyab, Arracan. — Burmese Funeral. — 
Beaches Bangoon 124 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Meeting Native Christians. — Travelling in a 
Burmese Boat. — Shivaygyeen. — On the 
Sita?ig Biver. — Arrival at Toungoo. — 
Commences the Study of the Shan Lan- 
guaye. — In the Jungle ....... 148 

CHAPTER IX. 

Death in the Jungle. — Mai, the old Shan 
Christian. — Snakes of the Jungle. — Beturn 
to the City. — Taking hold of the Work. — 
Prayer -meeting in a Burman House. — 
Dengue Fever. — Shan Converts. — Inquir- 
ers. — Buddhism ......... 171 

CHAPTER X. 

The Climate. — Baptism of Shan Converts. — 
Preaches in the Shan Language. — At- 
tends the Convention at Bangoon. — Shway- 
Dagong. — Beturn to Toungoo. — Letters 
to Friends at Home. — Baptism .... 192 



Vlll. CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XL 



Goes on a Preaching Tour into the Shan Coun- 
try. — Experiences by the Way. — Interview 
with the Governor. — A Formidable Visi- 
tor. — Journeying toward Shan-land. ■ — In 
LoiAi 211 

CHAPTER XII. 

Vegetationinthe Toungthoo Country. — Jungle 
Experiences. — The Toungthoos. — Mugged 
Mountain Scenery. — A crowded Zayat, Ear- 
nest Preaching of the Gospel. — Bazaar 
Day at Nam Khoke, Preaching under a 
Banyan Tree. — Preaching at the Bazaar 
in Merng Pon. — Preaching in a Mountain 
Village. — Sudden Death. — Burial. . . 229 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Communication to the Board. — From a 
Brother Missionary after Receiving the Sad 
Tidings. — Fragrant Memories. — In Memo- 
riam 247 



INTRODUCTION- 



THE story of a human life is never devoid of interest, 
and the life which is described in the following 
pages has some special claims to our attention. For it was 
the life of a true man, who, moved by love to Christ, delib- 
erately chose to spend his days among the heathen ; of a 
true scholar, who asked for pioneer service, as an evan- 
gelist, in preference to work in a college ; and of a true 
missionary, who entered into a field white for the harvest, 
with a will to labor, and was suddenly called to his 
rest. 

I will not speak of Mr. Kelley's personal excellence and 
devotion to Christ, for of these the narrative and corres- 
pondence in this volume furnish abundant proof. But of 
his relation to foreign missions a few words may properly 
be said. And it should be remarked, in the first place, that 
when Mr. Kelley resolved to serve his Master in a heathen 

(ix.) 



X. INTRODUCTION. 

land, he had every reason to believe that he could spend a 
useful and honorable life at home. But, remembering 
that " the field is the world," and ascertaining by careful 
inquiry the condition of this great field, he became con- 
vinced that he ought to labor in the gospel for the heathen, 
and at once concluded to do this. When he had reached 
this conclusion he was at peace. His eye was single and 
his whole being full of light. Let others do likewise, and 
the same experience will be theirs. 

In deciding to be a foreign missionary Mr. Kelley had in 
view the direct work of preaching the Gospel to the 
heathen. He longed to bear the " good news " to men 
who had never heard it. Though fond of study, and able 
to acquire knowledge rapidly, though the action of his mind 
was uncommonly swift and sure, and his ability to teach 
well already proved, he was extremely reluctant to enter- 
tain a thought of any other form of missionary labor than 
that of preaching. And in the providence of God the 
Executive Committee of the Missionary Union was able to 
gratify his desire. 

Scattered through the eastern part of Burmah, in many 
principalities, is a very interesting people called the Shans, 
of the same stock as the Siamese. Some of these commu- 
nities are subject to Siam, some to China, and yet more to 
Burmah ; while a few of them owe allegiance to more 
than one of these powers. They have a written language, 
and many, if not all the men can read. They are, in 
religious profession, Buddhists. Dr. Bixby had labored 
among them to some extent as early as 1861, and had 
made earnest representations in their behalf. During five 



INTRODUCTION. XI. 

years he preached Christ to many of them, using chiefly 
the Burman language. In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Cushing 
took up the work in Toungoo, employing the Shan lan- 
guage ; and after five years of unwearied effort by them- 
selves alone, they were now calling for assistance. • Indeed, 
the health of Mr. Cushing was so much impaired that it 
was feared he would fall at his post or be compelled to 
return speedily to his native land ; and it was therefore 
deemed especially important to send a man to that field 
who would soon be able to continue his work as a trans- 
lator of the Scriptures, should he be taken away. If, how- 
ever, Mr. Cushing should be able, as the event proved, to 
go on with his work, he needed an associate who would 
give himself joyfully to the work of visiting the principal 
cities and mountain villages of the Shans, of declaring to 
them by word of mouth the grace of God in Christ Jesus, 
and of selecting with him a new station in the heart of the 
Shan country, for the further prosecution of the mis- 
sion. 

To this people and this service Mr. Kelley was ap- 
pointed, in perfect accord with his own wishes. Repairing 
to his field, he was received with joy by Mr. Cushing, and 
in less than eight months was able to preach to the Shans 
in their own tongue. Then, before his first tour through 
Shanland was finished — he was taken. Why was this? 
We bow in silence, and wait for the clearer light of the 
world to come. 

Yet all things are great that reveal the thoughts of God. 
This is true in the domain of matter, of life, and of mind. 
Kepler studied the laws of the physical universe with rever- 



xii. INTRODUCTION. 

ence and delight, because he saw in them expressions of 
Divine wisdom, and in making his discoveries could say : 
" O God, I think thy thoughts after thee." Agassiz inves- 
tigated the phenomena of animal life in the same spirit, 
because he saw in them proofs of a Supreme Intelligence, 
and could affirm, without fear, that all " thorough classifi- 
cation is but an interpretation of the thoughts of God." 
And Bushnell, a man of equal genius, delighted in the study 
of human life, because he believed that " Every man's life is 
a plan of God." We believe this, also. For reasons un- 
known to us, a life that seems to be cut off prematurely 
reveals more of God's thoughts than it would have done if 
prolonged to the full age of man. A broken shaft may 
have a deeper meaning than a perfect column. 

It seems to me that Mrs. Kelley has told the story of her 
husband's life with admirable justness and simplicity. Let 
those who read it learn the lesson of early and unreserved 
consecration, which it teaches. 

ALVAH HOVEY. 
Newton Centre, May 8, 1879. 



A CONSECRATED LIFE. 



CHAPTER I. 



AT the foot of one of the Green Mountains, 
amid the quiet and picturesque beauty of 
the Otter Creek valley, in Clarendon, Rutland 
County, Vermont, stood an old-fashioned farm- 
house, which was the home of the grandparents of 
Edwin Delmont Kelley. 

In this peaceful and beautiful spot the subject 
of this sketch was born, June 18th, 1846. He was 
the second son of Obadiah and Mary Kelley. 

One of the striking characteristics of his child- 
hood was his quickness of intellect and love of 
study. He learned to read with facility,. and com- 

13 



14 A Consecrated Life. 

menced arithmetic the summer he was three years 
of age. During the winter he was four years old 
a spelling match took place between the school 
which he attended and one from an adjoining 
district. As the exercise advaiiced, according to 
the custom, one after another was " spelt down," 
until none were left standing except a young man 
of about twenty years of age and little Eddie, 
whom they stood upon one of the desks. They 
kept along together for some time, when Eddie 
finally spelt him down ! 

Thus rapidly he progressed in his studies, until 
he had out-learned his teacher, especially in arith- 
metic; and when a mere child we hear of him 
instructing the older scholars in this branch. 

Another and more important characteristic as a 
child was his transparent conscientiousness. And 
while he was a real boy in character, yet he pos- 
sessed a gentleness and sweetness of disposition 
rarely seen in boys. 

He was blest with a Christian mother, wdiose 
chief desire for her children was that they might 
be early led to know and love the Lord. 

Their home in Clarendon was with the parents 
of Mr. Kelley, who were members of the Society 
of Friends ; his mother was a woman of rare 
piety; doubtless her daily practical religion and 
pious counsel were used not a little in moulding 
the character of her little grandson Edwin. 

One friend, recalling her recollections of him as 



CJiildhood. 15 

a child, speaks of a prayer-meeting which was 
held in the school-house, at which she was present ; 
when, during the meeting, little Eddie, who was 
then five years of age, knelt down and prayed 
audibly, repeating the Lord's prayer. She spoke 
of the serious impression which it made on her 
childish mind at the time. 

During his boyhood his mother was asked when 
she thought Edwin became a Christian. She re- 
plied that she did " not know the time wdien he 
was not a Christian." There was, however, a 
period when he believed he had a decided Christian 
experience. 

His parents removed to Weston, Vermont, 
where they remained for a short time ; while there 
a revival of religion took place in connection with 
the Baptist and Methodist churches ; here, when 
eleven years of age, while attending those union 
prayer-meetings, Edwin received, as never before, 
the precious assurance that Christ had accepted 
him. 

At this time he occasionally took part in the 
prayer-meetings; but he did not make a public 
profession of his faith until a few years later. 

He entered the Union High School, in Rutland, 
Vermont, when twelve years of age ; but before 
this time he had made good proficiency in algebra, 
in which the Baptist pastor of the town instructed 
him. 

During his course here his scholarly attainments 



16 ■ A Consecrated Life. 

and studious habits were such that his school- 
mates nick-named him " Professor." 

Miss , of Rutland, who attended this 

school at the same time, said that her mind was 
impressed by a little incident, which she related 
as follows : 

"One day a number of us were standing in the 
hall discussing Latin dictionaries, when Eugene 
(an older brother) put his hand on Edwin's head, 
saying, ' This is my Latin dictionary ! ' : 

Noting his evening studies in a little diary, May 
12th, 1862, he writes : " Translated one hundred 
and one verses of Virgil in fifty-five minutes." 

And the following evening, May 13th, " Trans- 
lated ninety-four verses of Virgil in forty-three 
minutes." 

Not alone were his studies confined to his 
books, for Nature presented to liim an ever attract- 
ive study. The charming prospect daily before 
him, of mountains, valley and winding streams 
awakened, even in childhood, an ardent love for 
Nature. 

He was a thoroughly interested student of 
botany. None enjoyed better than he the periodic 
excursions into the woods with one of his teachers, 
Mr. M , and his botany class. 

In his brother Eugene he had a congenial com- 
panion in this, as also in his other studies. To- 
gether they would climb the mountains, and 



Ready for College. 17 

venture over hazardous places to procure some 
rare plant or flower. 

He, with his brother Eugene, graduated from 
the High School July 2d, 1862; where, by his 
scholarship and deportment, he had won the love 
and respect of his teachers and schoolmates, who 
entertained high hopes for his future career. 

Though Mr. Kelley's means were small, he pur- 
posed that his sons should have every advantage 
of a higher education, and accordingly told them 
that they might select their college. 

They decided in favor of the University of 
Michigan ; and therefore, subsequently, the family 
removed to Ann Arbor. 

After Edwin's arrival in that city, from his new 
boarding place he thus writes to his parents : 

" Ann Arbor is a beautiful city. The streets are 
almost universally lined with shade trees, and the 
city is filled with peach trees. From the window 
of my room it seems more like a forest than a 
city." 

Oct. 7th, 1862, at the age of sixteen years, on 
entering the University, Edwin took the first prize 
for being the finest Greek scholar in the Freshman 
class. He was also in advance of his class in 
mathematics. 

To show something of his life in college, and 
how God was leading him, we select from his 
journal a few extracts, from many similar ones 
which might be quoted. A 



18 A Consecrated Life. 



"o 



Sunday, Feb. 1st, 1863. — This afternoon the 
preacher's theme was Liberty ; and his object was 
to prove, that perfect liberty can exist only in 
obedience to law. He did prove it clearly. My 
mind had been wrestling with .the great enigmas 
of human life and human sin. The sermon was 
4 like oil on the troubled waters.' It calmed and 
satisfied me. Ah, why do we struggle so anxiously 
and vainly to learn all the details of God's mercy 
and justice, and thus fail to comprehend the great, 
all-embracing truths ? " 

"Feb. 15th. — This afternoon we had a good 
sermon. In it, the minister said that we should 
not test our experience in religious matters by 
that of others. This is true. Some hearts are 
overcome at once, taken by assault, as it were. 
Others are opened like the budding flower, opened 
by the goodness of God, into more perfect 
beauty." 

The latter resembled more the operations of 
Divine Grace upon his own heart. 

(Journal.) " March SOth. — College exercises 
commenced again to-day. Worked and recited as 
usual. In the afternoon, just before sunset, I took 
a walk down by the river. Picked and pressed 
the symplocarpns fcetidus. During the walk, I 
enjoyed quite a fine view from a small hill on the 
northern bank of the river. The view, though 
different from those to which I have been accus- 
tomed, was beautiful. Nature presents to us varied 



Life in College. 19 

forms of beauty, but all alike are beautiful. The 
rugged mountain and the broad, rolling plain are 
alike rilled with glory ; and, as we gaze upon them, 
a feeling of holy awe and reverence comes over 
us, and we bow down in worship before the great 
Creator." 

"Apr. 14:th. — Worked and recited as usual. 
Analyzed the ranunculus fascicularis, or early 
crowfoot. Also traced a plant to the genus pop- 
ulus, but, as its leaves have not yet appeared, 
could not make out the species." 

" May 25th. — It seems to me that we shall be 
judged, and that our influence will be decided, 
not so much by what we do, as by what we feel, 
what we are. O, let us train up noble thoughts, 
and banish everything evil from our minds ! " 

"June 18th. — To-day is my 17th birthday." 

" July 1th. — As I walked out this evening, God 
seemed to shine down upon me from the stars." 

" Sept. 24th. — God is love, and the more we 
love, the nearer God we are, and the more glori- 
ously bright and happy." 

"Nov. V&th. — In the Greek class to-day, Prof. 
Boise gave us subjects on which to prepare essays. 
My subject is early poetry of Greece, compared 
with the early poetry of other lands, and I think 
I shall compare it more particularly to the Celtic 
poems, as reproduced in Ossian." 

" Nov. 27th. — How pleasant it is to listen to 
one whom you admire, as a lady, and hear of her 



20 A Consecrated Life. 

childhood's days, and the days of her bright and 
happy youth, and see how the maiden of eighteen 
passed into the noble woman. Yet, we listen, not 
with the feelings of a cold analyzer of the human 
heart, but with a deep reverence and profound 
respect." 

"Dec. 10t7i, 1863. — To-day I agreed to act as 
private tutor to two young men who wish to pre- 
pare for college before next fall." 

"March lQth, 1864. — Life is not all pleasure — 
there is much of sadness in it. The true rule of 
life is not to seek for happiness particularly, but to 
be true, noble and just, fulfilling our duty to God 
and all mankind." 

He was enjoying the best educational advan- 
tages, in reference to which he thus writes : 

"March 19th. — lean but thank God that he 
has placed me in the midst of such ennobling 
influences. May I show my gratitude by giving 
him the praise, and endeavoring to lead a true 
Christian life." 

" March, like its predecessors, has gone — a 
month that has taught me the hollowness of life ; 
that has convinced me that the true life must take 
hold of things beyond this earth ; things that are 
sure and fail not." 

" June 16th. — God made me not in vain. He 
has a work for me to do." 

He had a tender, sympathizing heart, and was 
ever considerate for those in sorrow. While view- 



Life in College. 21 

ing a funeral, he thinks of the time when he, too, 
will be laid away. In the following entry, the 
expression of his wishes, in connection with that 
time, seems almost prophetical in some repects ; yet, 
doubtless, he had in view the solemn, orderly 
funeral of a Christian land. His Master chooses 
for him, and the " solitary wilds " become the final 
resting-place, in heathen Shan-land. 

(Journal.) "June 2M, 1864. — Saw a funeral 
pass by to-day, and the tears of a widowed mother, 
and the carelessness, almost gayety, of the many- 
colored crowd that followed, seemed rather dis- 
cordant. — When I die, let my body be silently, 
reverently placed in the grave by a few friends. 
Let there be no long procession, no heartless show. 
Let me lie, far from the dust of the city, either in 
solitary wilds, or in some quiet country glade, 
beside grand trees, and beneath beauteous 
flowers ! " 

"Aug. 4th. — I believe I can truly say, what I 
hardly ever before have been able to say, God's 
will be done. I no longer seek happiness as once 
I did. There are lives of pure and happy pleasure ; 
there are, too, lives of stern, sad suffering. Between 
these two lives I have no choice, no shadow of 
preference ; whichever God gives me, that will I 
take." 

Soon after this, he made a public profession of 
his love for Christ, by baptism, and was received 
into the Ann Arbor Baptist church. On this 



22 A Consecrated Life. 

occasion lie had no remarkable exercises of mind, 
but having an earnest desire to follow the Lord in 
his commands, and be numbered with his followers. 

(Journal.) "Sunday, Aug. 1th, 1864. — I was 
baptized this morning, and ■ in the afternoon 
received the hand of fellowship into the church, 
and partook of the Lord's Supper. 

" These are holy privileges, privileges to which 
I have heretofore been a stranger. May my soul 
become imbued with the great truths which these 
ordinances shadow forth, and may I be one with 
the church in all good purposes, as I am now, in 
faith. May I be a steadfast, earnest Christian." 

During this summer the family were called to 
mourn the death of their oldest son and brother, 
Eugene, who left college to enter the army. He 
was a genial, noble hearted, promising young man. 
After having heard of the death of an intimate 
friend, who fell at his post, he said, " I will take 
his place." He did so ; but, ah ! he, too, was 
soon numbered among the noble dead, who, in 
loyalty to their country, were willing to lay down 
their lives. 

In reference to this, we find recorded in his 
brother Edwin's journal : 

" My noble brother, alas ! is dead ; and often I 
think of the joys and griefs and boyish plans we 
shared together, and grieve to think, that, in this 
world, I shall never see him more. 

" I mourn for him, and yet I truly hope that the 



Life in College. 23 

solemn truths of the Gospel had found their way 
to his heart; and that I shall find him before me, 
when I reach that brighter, better land, for which 
I am striving. May my talents, my powers, my 
life be devoted to the service of Christ." 

" Thursday, Oct. 6th, 1864. — Studied and recited 
as usual. Went to the prayer-meeting in the even- 
ing. These meetings I think I ought to attend, even 
if I am obliged to neglect my studies therefor ; 
for, as the soul of man is more important than the 
intellect, so is the spiritual growth of more im- 
portance than the intellectual." 

" Nov. 10th. — Passed the clay as usual, in study 
and recitation. Was excused from being present 
at rhetorical excercises this evening, and went 
to church. We had an excellent meeting. The 
words hatred, anger, revenge, disease, death — 
all that denote any species of sin and sorrow, will 
find nothing to which they can apply in heaven. 
They will then be used only as words of the past. 
We have learned the meaning of these words here, 
by sad experience. We shall not forget them in 
heaven, for nothing that we have ever known will 
be forgotten. While we regain our former inno- 
cence and joy, our knowledge will be greater, our 
thoughts more expanded, our appreciation of God's 
glory fuller and truer, than it would have been if 
sin, with all its horrors, had never come upon us ; 
and man redeemed will be a nobler, better being, 



24 A Consecrated Life. 

than was ever sinless man — than ever sinless man 
conlcl be." 

"Sunday, Dec. 4th, 1864. — This morning Mr. 
Osgood, a missionary from Burmah, preached a 
sermon, calling for more vigorous missionary 
efforts. In the evening he delivered an address 
entitled ' Burmah as a missionary field. 5 Perhaps 
I ought to be a missionary ; it is a glorious cause, 
and the laborers are few ; and yet, I hardly think 
I am fitted for such a work. May the Lord direct 
me." 

" Dec. 25th. — You often feel more true sympathy 
when alone, than when with others. When by 
yourself, outwardly, you are alone, but inwardly 
you may feel the freest communion with God him- 
self, the highest form of sympathy ; when you are 
outwardly in the presence of others, within, there 
may be the most dreary solitude." 

" Sunday, Feb. IQth, 1865. — All the commands 
of God are true oracles, are divine responses given 
to some earnest inquiry of the human heart. These 
responses, unlike the oracles of the heathen dei- 
ties, are neither given in darkness nor upon unim- 
portant subjects. They tell us how we shall obtain 
salvation, how we shall gain sanctification (more 
the object of the Christian's desire than the first, 
merely ) ; and they describe the glory that awaits 
us. If David rejoiced over the Scriptures, which 
were known to him, if those which the Jews pos- 
sessed constituted their chief blessing, how full of 



Life in College. 25 

joy and gratitude should we be for what we pos- 
sess." 

" Sunday, March 5th. — Attended the communion 
service this afternoon. I can't help thinking how 
abundantly God has blessed me. And yet, though 
I sometimes believe myself grateful, how deeply 
and how often do I sin." 

" Sunday, March 2Qth, 1865.— Went to church 
in the forenoon, afternoon, and evening. Passed a 
most pleasant day. Fourteen persons presented 
themselves for admission to our church, and it was 
voted to receive them next Sunday, after baptism. 
Among them was my brother Louis. I have, 
indeed, great reason to be thankful for this and 
other blessings, which God has given to me in 
answer to prayer." 

Some of the entries in his journals were written 
in French, Greek, and in Latin. 

" March 27th. — This diary, after all, is not worth 
much. My everyday thoughts seem too common- 
place to write down here, and the inmost thoughts 
of my heart are too sacred to be thus ex- 
pressed." 

"Apr. 12th. — I used to think I would devote 
my life to the advancement of science. To dive 
deep into the boundless realms of mathematics, to 
explore physical facts, and to ascertain the causes 
of those facts, to learn more of the universe of 
worlds, and the laws which govern the universe ; 
such a life posesses for me a strong fascination, 



26 A Consecrated Life. 

and such a life is one for which I am peculiarly 
fitted. 

" But can I, in this way, do most good ? Would 
this most benefit my fellow men ? I fear not. If it 
is my duty to work in another. sphere, I will gladly 
do it." 

God had a better work for him, and was gradu- 
ally leading him to it. His mind was turned to 
the heathen and their condition ; he was seriously 
considering the subject of going as a foreign mis- 
sionary, to which he alludes in the following entry. 

He also says, " I am sad at the idleness of my 
life." 

Few would consider they were leading an idle 
life, while pursuing such a course of study ; and 
he was also, during this time, fitting other young 
men for college. A class-mate, in writing him, 
while speaking of his haying ample leisure time 
for other interests, says : " And you with always 
perfect lessons ! " 

(Journal.) " I am sad at the idleness of my 
life, sad at the selfishness of my plans and pur- 
poses, and have had thoughts of giving up all 
these selfish objects, and of devoting my life to a 
nobler and better work. 

" What the decision will be I do not know ; but 
God grant that I may decide aright." 

" Sunday, Apr. 23d. — Attended church as usual. 
Passed a very pleasant day — a day of sorrow for 
sins committed, and yet, of joy in the knowledge 



Life in College. 27 

that God has forgiven me, and will help me to live 
a purer and more devoted life. O, that God would 
bless these friends, so near to me, for whom I pray 
more earnestly, perhaps, than for myself." 

"Apr. 27th. — This glorious Gospel, with all its 
precepts of love, its hopes and promises for the 
endless future, is more important than any earthly 
subject ; it is the most important of all subjects 
that can occupy our minds on this earth ; nay, it 
comprehends all others; it is the cause for the 
advancement of which I am to devote my life. 
Lord, help me in this, and O, deliver me from sub- 
jection unto sin ! " 

"Apr. 30th. — A day of penitence and of earnest 
resolutions ; — will they be broken ? " 

" Sunday, May 21st, 1865. — To me this has 
been a day of rest. I have sinned ; I do constantly 
sin, and for these sins I have been sad ; but to-day 
I cast aside this gloom and sorrow, and rest ; rest, 
and worship God, and rejoice. How glorious is 
the Sabbath ; a day of rest, a day when we can 
conscientiously lay aside our cares and all our toil, 
and think of our blessings, and look up to the 
Author of all, with thanksgiving and adora- 
tion/' 

He loved poetry, and in its composition revealed 
no mean talent. On different occasions, while in 
college, he wrote the class poem. Near the close 
of his journal, he pens the following thoughts : 

" How delightful it would be to live and move 



28 A Consecrated Life. 

in the ideal world. To chronicle the joys and 
sorrows of hnman hearts ; and the pure emotions 
that arise therein, of love and gratitude to God. 
To visit Italy, the land of song, or Greece, the 
homes of heroes old, to dwell awhile in the quiet 
solitudes, and midst the lovely scenes of the Apen- 
nines, gathering from every land the 

" ' prismal gleams, 
Which, when united, form the perfect ray.' 

and to pour forth all these feelings in simple song. 
This would be almost perfect happiness, it would 
seem ; and this would be doing good to others. 
But, duty calls me elsewhere, to a work more noble, 
because more unselfish ; because it does not con- 
tain the same promise of happiness in this life, at 
least. May God fit me for this work, and enable 
me, if it be his will, to give up thoughts of earthly 
happiness for his most glorious service." 

" Sunday, June 4:th. — Two souls I have tried to 
assist in discovering the truth. One of them was 
a man who does not believe in the revelation God 
has given ; but in a God made known by reason 
alone. A poor, misguided, distrustful soul. But 
God's Spirit is all powerful. I must leave them ; 
may the Holy Spirit never leave them." 

We regret that his journal closes here ; he does 
not resume it again until he embarks on his voyage 
to Burmah. 



CHAPTER II. 

MR. KELLEY graduated from the University 
of Michigan in June, 1866, having com- 
pleted a thorough and honorable course. 

" Human Brotherhood " was the subject of his 
oration for commencement. It was treated in a 
scholarly manner, and also gave expression to 
broad sympathies with all classes and conditions 
of men. In conclusion he added : " Christianity 
is a religion, not laying a foundation for a system 
of caste, but abolishing all false distinctions, and 
levelling the monuments of human pride ; a relig- 
ion destined for no party or people, but in its 
adaptations and claims broad and universal as 
mankind; a religion addressing its hopes and 
fears, its promises and penalties, its precepts and 
prohibitions to the whole human family ; a religion 

29 



30 A Consecrated Life. 

recognizing in all its fulness, and teaching in all 
its grandeur, the truth of universal brother- 
hood." 

Prof. James R. Boise, his Greek professor, 
says : 

" I remember him as a patient, conscientious and 
highly successful student, and a most worthy 
man." 

We quote from Prof. Olney, his professor in 
mathematics : 

" He was one of the very best pupils I ever had ; 
laborious, careful, painstaking and conscientious. 
A first-class student in mathematics, as well as in 
other studies." 

In the following October he became assistant 
librarian in the University of Michigan, and, 
while thus engaged, in January, 1867, he accepted 
an invitation to the position of classical tutor in 
Dennison University. 

We will make a few extracts from some of his 
letters to his parents, during his connection with 
this college : 

"Granville, <9., Feb. 15th, 1867. 
"Dear Parents: It is Friday evening; and, 
the regular prayer-meeting being postponed for 
one in which I could do little or no good, I am at 
liberty, and propose to spend the evening writing 
home, etc. Besides my classes I am having one 
student recite privately in Greek. He is reading 



Dennison University. 31 

something that I have never read — an oration of 
an old Athenian orator — so that I am obliged to 
study it myself beforehand, and find it quite inter- 
esting. 

" As for study not necessitated by the daily rou- 
tine of college duties, should I feel studiously 
disposed, there is the Greek Testament, unex- 
hausted and inexhaustible, with other books 
brought from home, and the college library be- 
sides. Books enough for a person to lose himself 
in, enough to keep me from being homesick ; but 
not enough, I know, to make me forget home, nor 
to prevent the thought of returning from being a 
pleasant one. 

" I would just like it if I could, in leisure mo- 
ments, sit down beside mother and read her some 
things that I am sure she would like to hear. 

" Professor Stevens, with whom I room, is a 
most pleasant room-mate ; he is, in short, a man of 
refinement and culture." 

To the same, at the commencement of the spring 
term: 

" Granville, 0., Mar. 22d, 1867. 

" Dear Parents : It is again Friday evening, 
and my books for this week are laid aside. 

" Well, excepting one or two matters, I am fixed 
for the term. Think it will be rather a pleasant 
one. Whether the time will all be spent in the 



32 A Consecrated Life. 

faithful discharge of the duties which devolve 
upon me ; whether I shall make the most of it, 
and be faithful to my Master in all things (which 
includes faithfulness to myself and faithfulness to 
my employers) is a much more serious matter, 
and one in regard to which I feel more anxiety 
and doubt. 

" I wish that I might be thus faithful. I wish 
that I were a devoted servant of Christ, and had 
the Spirit continually with me. 

" I have felt the lack of this for a long time ; I 
felt it while at home to some extent. 

" If I had some active Christian labor in which 
I were engaged, it would help me in this respect. 
I will try to find some such labor, and try to be 
faithful in all things, asking for help from that 
source from which alone help can come/' 

He found work for the Lord in the meetings of 
the church, and in the Sabbath-school, where he 
taught a Bible class ; and also in other ways made 
his influence felt for the Master. 

We doubt not that he was greatly blessed to the 
spiritual good of many of his pupils in whom he 
was so warmly interested. 

Again he writes to his parents : 

" Granville, Mar. 30^, 186T. 
" I have six recitations to hear now, and shall 
have for the remainder of the term ; besides study- 



Dennison University. 33 

ing Hebrew myself. This, with the time necessa- 
rily occupied in preparation before going to the 
class-room, will keep me pretty busy. The studies 
do occupy a good deal of my thoughts as well as 
my time. However, I find leisure to think of other 
and more important things, and, feeling that it is 
my first duty to serve God, try to make his service 
my chief desire, and to discharge these daily duties 
in his fear. 

ww Paul wrote to the Colossians that ' Whatsoever 
they did they should do heartily as to the Lord, 
and not unto men ; ' and the commandment is one 
that applies to all, and one that I feel applies to 
me in my occupation here." 

To the same : 

" aranville, 0., May 11th, 1867. 

" I believe I have found out something that I 
did not fully know before. It is that the object of 
going to college is not to store the mind with val- 
uable facts, but to learn how to think. 

" And I think that my stay here in Granville 
has taught me as much in that direction as I could 
have learned in the same time if engaged in a 
course of study. 

" It seems a little lonely here sometimes, when, 
as to-day, I have leisure to stop and think. But I 
suppose that something of loneliness and solitude 
is necessary to everyone in order to give depth 



34 A Consecrated Life. 

and soundness to his character. He who spends 
his life entirely among others is apt to be super- 
ficial, and to have no real character of his own, 
taking his hue from those with whom he may be 
at the time ; solitary self-communion and solitary 
communion with God are needed to fit one to 
live with men, and to influence them for the 
right." 

After having spent the vacation at his home in 
Ann Arbor, he returned to Granville the following 
September ; where, on the 18th of the month, he 
delivered an essay before the Granville Ministerial 
Conference, the subject of which was " Abraham's 
Justification by Faith." 

To his parents he writes as follows : 

" Granville, 0., Nov. 2d, 186T. 

" I received your letter in due time, and now 
will begin my weekly letter to you. 

"We have had some cold and rainy weather, 
but to-day it is warm and pleasant again — a most 
beautiful day. Such a day has a tendency — as it 
should, when we consider the Giver of the blessing 
— to make us happy. and free from care. 

"God, who gives us, and gives all, so many 
things for our comfort and our happiness, will 
assuredly, if we trust in him, and follow the 
directions he has given, most abundantly care for 
us, both temporally and spiritually. This simple 



Dennison University. 35 

trust in God, this confidence that he loves and 
cares for us, that whatever seeming evil may hap- 
pen to us, we are safe in his hands, is a very easy, 
natural feeling to the child of God, yet it is one 
which we do not encourage enough. Instead of 
allowing such a feeling to take possession of us 
and give lis rest, we are too apt to burden our- 
selves with anxiety about things which we cannot 
help, and to be too much troubled about the affairs 
of our daily life. 

" Christ gives the injunction which, in the Eng- 
lish translation, reads thus : ' Take no thought for 
the morrow,' etc. The meaning of the original is 
not that Ave should not exercise forethought and 
make provision for the morrow, but merely, 4 Do 
not be anxious, troubled, about the morrow." 

In another letter, he says : 

" I wonder what kind of a teacher I am ? I have 
a tolerably good understanding of the subject 
which I am teaching, and can tell what I know ; 
can find out, too, whether the different members 
of the class have their lessons or not ; but, some- 
how, don't succeed in making some study as they 
ought to. 

" A good teacher will give a student such a 
stirring up, when he comes into the class poorly 
prepared, that he will take extra pains thereafter. 

" This, I suppose, is the best way ; but, in order 



86 A Consecrated Life. 

to do this, I should have to put myself in a cross, 
fault-finding humor, very different from the char- 
itable spirit which puts the best construction on 
whatever anyone does, and makes all possible 
allowances. This is my chief deficiency as a 
teacher, I think." 

Doubtless it was one of the reasons of his 
success as a teacher, that, in the class-room, as 
elsewhere, he ever manifested the same kind, con- 
siderate, loving spirit ; and, in return, received the 
confidence and love of his pupils. 

To the same : 

" Granville, 0., Jan. 11th, 1868. 

" The church here has been holding week-day 
meetings during this week. 

" It is a great privilege to meet with Christian 
brothers, and to hear them speak of God's love, 
manifested to us through Christ ; it is blessed also 
to meditate on the love of God, to study his word, 
and to consecrate one's self anew to his service. 
The Christian's life is full of such privileges ; by 
the new birth we are made the children of God, 
and may commune freely with him, and trust him 
thoroughly. 

" We make our plans, but very often we find, 
and find to our profit, that God's thoughts are not 
our thoughts, neither are our ways God's ways. 

" What a blessed thing it is that we can trust 



Dewnison University. 37 

God ; trust him even when the future seems dark 
to us. And how much better does our past his- 
tory show that he has guided us, than we could 
guide ourselves." 

" Granville, #., Jan. 27th, 1868. 

" Dear Father and Mother : I am glad to 
hear that you are having meetings, in which a 
good deal of interest is felt ; hope that God may 
guide them to his glory, and to the good of the 
church. 

" Here, at college, we have had some very ear- 
nest prayer-meetings, and the Christian students 
seem to feel very deeply their unworthiness, and, 
at the same time, the responsibility that rests upon 
them, in regard to class-mates and associates, who 
are out of Christ. 

" I hope that good will result from these meet- 
ings, and I am sure that it will be so ; but it will 
not be of us. We are utterly worthless and help- 
less ; and only the almighty power of God can 
effect that which we would see done, in ourselves 
and in others around us. Yet, if we cry with all 
our hearts unto Him, he will do this for us. 

" May your prayers help us here ; may they 
help me to be humble, diligent, and faithful, 
abounding in the work of the Lord, and possessing 
his spirit. 

" The year is gradually passing away, and, by 



38 A Consecrated .Life. 

and by, I shall have the pleasure of being home 
again. 

" May God guide us till then, and after that, is 
the prayer of your son." 

In a letter, dated Feb. 4th, 1868, after speaking 
of Mr. Miiller and his work of faith, in connection 
with his Orphans' Homes, etc., he says : 

" There are many things, it seems to me, in our 
experience and in our observation, that should 
unite with the Scriptures in teaching us the power 
of faith in God ; that those that trust in the Lord 
are not disappointed. 

" I feel like thanking God that he does all things 
just as he does, and that we may trust him fully ; 
him who is infinite wisdom, love and power." 

" aranville, <9., Apr. 13th, 1868. 

" Deab Parents : Another week has passed, 
and I again sit down to write to you. 

" I have just returned from a very good meeting. 
The subject presented in the portion of Scripture 
read, and that formed the theme of most of the 
remarks, was the death and resurrection of Christ. 
That he, loving and pitying us individually, suf- 
fered and died to save us ; and that he rose again, 
and now, a personal friend, a sympathizing brother 
to each one of us, lives on high, to make interces- 
sion for us. 



Dennison University. 39 

" The meeting could not be otherwise than a 
good one. 

" We need to dwell continually on these great 
central truths of the Gospel ; these truths which 
are the Gospel ; that they may exert their power 
over us. This, the glad tidings, is never old ; 
and the true growth of Christian knowledge is the 
learning to know more and more fully Christ 
Jesus and him crucified. 

" Remember me, and pray that I may spend well 
the days, one by one, as they pass along." 

In regard to teaching, he remarks : 

" Teaching is a great and noble work, if we take 
the true view of it. 

" It does not consist merely in drilling Greek 
and Latin into the minds of a few classes, although 
that is a part of it, not to be neglected ; it consists 
in promoting and pruning and directing the growth, 
intellectually, morally, and spiritually, of each 
individual scholar. 

" I shall always be glad, I think, that I have 
taught here. I shall be glad that I have formed 
the acquaintance of some of the earnest young 
men I have met in the class-room. 

" I must be faithful and do my whole duty to 
them while I remain." 

The latter part of the following extract, from 



40 A Consecrated Life. 

one of his letters, reveals his loving trust in the 
Master. Longing to be used by him, but, at the 
same time, manifesting a true spirit of submission 
to Christ. It also shows the jealous care with 
which he watched his own heart. 

To his parents : 

" G-ranville, 0., May 16*A, 1868. 
"Some of my pupils here I 
shall remember with much affection ; and, what is 
very encouraging to me, some of them will re- 
member me kindly. What I have done, has been 
very far from what I hoped to do ; but I am en- 
couraged to think that I have been the means of 
some good to some of them ; and this is most 
cheering to me. Unless we can have some such 
hope as this, it seems to me that life must be a 
burden ; must appear a vain and empty thing. It 
is, I am sure, all that makes any of our lives 
pleasant. 

" And I am encouraged to hope that in the 
future, though all the ways which I propose 
should be blocked up, though all the plans that 
I make should be marred, yet God will, in some 
way, use me in his work. 

" You would perhaps think from my letters, if 
you did not know me better, that I was not very 
selfish, very sinful and insensible — hardened in 
sin. My thoughts are not very much upon spirit- 



Dennison University. 41 

ual things ; I am constantly yielding to sin ; and 
seem insensible to my own condition — to the fact 
that I am not what one redeemed by the blood of 
Christ should be. I seem often to have reason to 
doubt whether the old or new man is master 
within me." 

About this time he writes : 

" Dear Parents : If I leave here directly 
after commencement, I shall be home the last of 
June ; if, as last year, I stay at the Ministerial In- 
stitute, still I shall be home the first week in July. 

" My time is passing very pleasantly now. 

" I think I am not so barren spiritually as I have 
been ; God is teaching me and blessing me, so that 
I am growing in spiritual wisdom and in Christian 
love. When this is the case, the time does pass 
pleasantly. 

"I have been inclined, sometimes, I think, to 
look at the religion of the gospel in the wrong 
light ; to consider it as countenancing asceticism. 

" On the contrary, its whole spirit is that, as 
Christ loved us with a deep, earnest love, and 
became one of us, he might also suffer for us, and 
help and save us. So we, forgetting ourselves, 
should love and mingle freely with our fellow men, 
seeking earnestly their good. . . . 

"With thanks to the Lord, that he guides us 
and has blessed us so abundantly." 



42 A Consecrated Life. 

The following extract from a letter which Mr. 
Kelley received from Prof. W. A. Stevens, of Den- 
nison University, will show how he was regarded 
as a teacher (he taught Greek, Latin, and mathe- 
matics.) 

"Granville (9., Oct. ISth, 1868. 
" Dear Tutor : The present Freshman class 
are the best Grecians (taking the average), that I 
have seen in the first collegiate year. 

" Taking this as the fruits of your scholarship 
and teaching, I am compelled to congratulate you 
on your successful task. 

" I, as well as they, have reason moreover to 
consider ourselves personally indebted for your 
thorough work. 

" I wish you all success in the studies which 
now absorb your attention, and afterwards as well. 
" Sincerely your friend, 

" W. A. Stevens." 

Professor Hicks, of Dennison University, says : 

" He boarded in my family several months. 

" We all esteemed him very highly for his admir- 
able Christian spirit, his thorough scholarship 
and skill as an instructor. 

" His almost extreme modesty prevented the 
full appreciation of his excellent traits and first 
class abilities by a casual acquaintance ; but, in the 



Reminiscences from Fellow Teachers. 43 

course of daily duties among his pupils and inti- 
mate friends, his genial qualities soon shone forth 
conspicuously and apparent to all. 

" Without any unseeming levity he had a rich 
vein of quiet humor in his composition. 

" Always in his place in the discharge of every 
secular and religious duty." 

Reminiscences furnished by Professor A. U. 
Thresher, of Dennison University : 

" G-ranville, 0., Aug. 27th 1877. 

"Mrs. J. B. Kelley, My Dear Sister, ... In 
regard to dear Bro. Kelley, I have many recollec- 
tions, to me very precious and sacred. 

" On my return to Granville, in September 1867, 
I first met Bro. Kelley, and became associated with 
him in teaching. 

" I had the good fortune to secure board at the 
same table, and we roomed in the same college 
building. Besides spending much time together in 
other ways and places, we usually walked together 
to and from our meals. I thus came to know him as 
few in Granville had the privilege of knowing him ; 
for, though always genial and courteous, Bro. Kel- 
ley was not one to open his heart and life to a 
chance acquaintance. 

" Every day of our acquaintance revealed some 
new trait of his character, some new phase of 
experience, some hitherto unsuspected attainment. 



44 A Consecrated Life. 

" I look back upon the hours spent with Bro. 
Kelley as among the most pleasant and profitable 
of my life. 

" As a teacher Bro. Kelley possessed rare attain- 
ments for one of his years. (He was then not far 
from twenty-one.) 

" Though he had an insatiable appetite for all 
knowledge, yet he possessed unusual judgment 
as to the worth of different kinds of knowledge. 
He gave himself unreservedly to the study of the 
best things. 

" He was quick, too, to detect the character of 
an author. Conscientious and accurate himself, 
he had no patience with looseness and inaccuracy 
of thought or statement. 

" As a teacher Bro. Kelley was painstaking and 
thorough. He was far more patient with dull 
pupils than teachers of his scholarship are wont to 
be; but his forbearance sometimes cost him a 
struggle, and always revealed a truly Christian 
spirit. 

" After all, broad and accurate as was his schol- 
arship, and genial and kindly as he was in all 
social relations, the best and most characteristic 
thing that can be said of him is, that he was a 
Christian man. 

" In all my intercourse with him, he impressed 
me chiefly as being one who was thoroughly loyal 
to Christ. 

"His quiet, unflagging, trustful religious life 



Reminiscences from Fellow Teachers. 45 

was often a rebuke to me, and always an inspira- 
tion, too. 

" I fear I have already extended this letter be- 
yond limits. . . . But I have written from a full 
heart. . . . 

ww I shall be satisfied if I have indicated to you 
how lovable your late husband seemed to me, and 
how much I learned to love him in the brief year 
we were associated together at Granville. 

. . . " Thanking you for the privilege of 
writing these lines, 

w * I am, in love for the dear departed, and in the 
bonds of Christ, 

" Affectionately your brother, 

" A. U. Thresher." 



CHAPTER III. 

HAVING spent a year and a half at Dennison 
University, Mr. Kelley closed his connection 
there, June, 1868, for the purpose of entering the 
Theological Institution at Newton, where he com- 
menced his studies the following ^September. 

To this work he brought a mind stored with 
knowledge, and a heart imbued with the spirit of 
Christ. 

Soon after his arrival there he writes to his 
parents as follows : 

" Newton Centre, Mass., Sept. 12th, 1868. 
"Dear Father and Mother: I am now 
settled and expect henceforth to keep up the let- 
ter-a-week system. 

" I find the surroundings here very pleasant. 
46 



Newton and Theological Studies. 47 

My room (like all the rooms in the Institution) is 
very neatly furnished. 

"We ( i. e. the junior class) are engaged in the 
study of the Gospel according to Mark. We take 
a certain number of verses a day, and read them 
carefully in the original Greek, comparing it at 
the same time with the other evangelists. It is a 
very profitable study. I had feared that, in the 
critical study of the Bible there would be a very 
great tendency to merge spirituality in scholar- 
ship ; but I think there is not necessarily any such 
tendency. 

" Of course one must guard against this, as well 
as against every other temptation ; must both strive 
and pray that the spirit of earnest, devoted piety 
be not dimmed by any tiling ; but this careful, 
critical study of the Scriptures may be, and if one 
is watchful in this as in other things, will be, very 
conducive to a devotional spirit. 

" I especially need to be careful ; for, strange as 
it may seem, when I am heartily engaged in any 
work, I am apt to forget the final object for which 
I am working. I found this to be the case last 
year at Granville. Though I performed the work 
conscientiously, it was not a work of such spiritual 
activity as I could have wished. 

" I find it very pleasant to be here among Chris- 
tian young men, all feeling for each other a Chris- 
tian sympathy, and all engaged in the same work 
of preparation for future usefulness." 



48 A Consecrated Life. 

To the same : 

"Newton Centre, Mass., Oet.VJth, 1868. 

. . . " I have received the hook I wrote of 
sending for, and now usually spend some time in 
looking over the various readings, and the manu- 
script authorities for them. I want to study each 
passage grammatically and critically, and then 
try to understand and accept the lesson it teaches; 
to study it devotionally. The first is of little use 
without the latter. 

" I am not obliged to spend much time on 
Hebrew. 

" I should like it so much to come in and talk 
with you sometimes, or, perhaps better, to have you 
come in here occasionally. Well, if we are all en- 
gaged in the service of the Lord, that is the main 
thing ; and it is not of so much importance whether 
or not we are together here. We shall be together 
around our Master." 

To the same : 

" Newton Centre, Mass., Dee., 1868. 
"I wrote you' about the good meeting that we 
had a week ago. It was the means of special good 
to me, and I hope I shall not soon lose the effect 
of it. At the beginning of the meeting the pastor 
spoke about prompt obedience; that we should 
obey God the first time, heed the first indication 



Being Led by the Spirit. 49 

of duty. I have tried to do this more, ever since ; 
I have tried to seek the direction of the Spirit, and 
gladly respond to the first promptings of the Spirit ; 
and, consequently, the past week has been such a 
week as I have not enjoyed before for a long time. 

" It is a delightful thing to give up one's will 
entirely and to come unto God, willing and glad 
to do whatever he has for one to do ; there is a 
peace in so doing, a fulness of peace that passes 
description. With God's help I shall try to be 
more prompt in my obedience to him in all things. 

" Another thing which God in his kindness has 
taught me is, that, if we have sinned against him, we 
are not to imagine that we must spend a long time 
in lamentation before he can forgive us ; thus, as it 
were, thinking that there is some atonement in our 
sorrow ; but we are to come unto him, letting the 
past go; asking that in the future we may not 
grieve him ; asking that he will help us henceforth 
to do his will, and to live with his approval — and 
trusting him. 

" What a blessed thing it is to have God dealing 
with us personally, and teaching us the truths 
which we need to know." 

To the same : 

" Newton Centre, Dec. 21st, 1868. 
. . . . " I have taken another student ; 
and, inasmuch as I should be thoroughly occupied 



50 A Consecrated Life. 

if I had no such extra work, you may imagine 
that leisure time just now is very scarce with me. 

" Mother, you don't know what a good year this 
has been to me. I have had an opportunity to 
labor for Christ, and my heart is in the work; by 
this means, and by the direct work of the Holy 
Spirit on my heart, God has given me more spirit- 
ual life than I have had before, has enabled me 
to keep closer to him, and to abide in him more than 
ever before. 

" It is good to be engaged in the service of the 
Lord, and to be constantly trying to follow the 
guidance of his Spirit, feeling at the same time 
one's own weakness, and the power and faithful- 
ness of his God, on whom is your reliance. 

" I come far short of serving God as I should. 
I am a poor, very sinful, very unworthy servant of 
the Lord ; yet, thanks to his undeserved grace, I 
have known something of the blessedness of his 
service. I need and pray for a more thorough 
consecration. I desire an entire giving up of my- 
self to his work." 

To the same : 

" Newton Centre, Feb. 15th, 1869. 
" I am spending a happy day ; 
happy, not so much because of pleasant surround- 
ings, as because of cheering thoughts within. 
" I have been thinking, of late, of the conduct 



The Christian's Hajipy Lot. 51 

of Martha and Mary when they entertained Jesus, 
and of Christ's words on that occasion. 

" The Lord does not mean that our lives should 
be those of hard and harsh service, and that we 
should be weary and hungry all our days ; we may 
have, and he is pleased that we should have, de- 
lightful intercourse with him. 

"We may find joy in his service, we may feast 
upon his love, and be refreshed by the rich bless- 
ings which he gives us. He has called us, not 
servants but friends ; he has made us sons of God ; 
he doesn't wish to have us always troubled and 
anxious about the details of the work, (thus 
making it a drudgery instead of a joyful service), 
but wishes us to find happiness in it ; and therefore 
he gives us many seasons of special refreshing, and 
many blessings as special tokens of his love. 

" Our life, if we be what we should be, is a life 
of entire self-sacrifice ; and it is, at the same time, 
a life of supreme happiness. 

" He that loses his life for Christ's sake and the 
gospeFs, the same shall find it. 

" You see, mother, that my asceticism is disap- 
pearing. I hope that it will disappear before a 
true understanding of God's word, and that I 
shall be enabled to make the true sacrifice of self." 

Soon after Mr. Kelley entered Newton Theolog- 
ical Institution, he engaged in Christian work in 
Boston on the Sabbath, in connection with the 



52 A Consecrated Life. 

Bowdoin Square Baptist church ; teaching a Bible- 
class in the Sabbath-school, and assisting in the 
prayer-meetings ; and also by private conversations 
with those who were out of Christ, whom he gently 
but earnestly entreated to seek the Saviour. 

Here he, like the disciples of old on their way 
to Emmaus, often communed with his Divine 
Master by the way. And here he enjoyed many 
precious seasons, with the band of earnest brothers 
and sisters in the Lord, who, at that time, com- 
posed this church. 

When he first began this work, he, with his 
class-mate, Mr. W. O. Ayer, were in the habit of 
walking in from Newton Centre to Boston, on 
Sabbath morning, and returning the same way, 
after the evening meeting. 

To his parents he writes as follows : 

" Newton Centre, Mar. 8th, 1869. 
" We are really in the work for 
the term. Dr. Stearns is taking us over the 
Psalms in Hebrew; and we like him and his 
teaching very much ; his own spiritual piety and 
his long experience in the ministry seem to shed 
a flood of light upon David's hymns of praise. 

" He knows how to discover the treasure of rich 
spiritual meaning of the Word. We all feel it a 
privilege to be under him. 

"In Greek, we are studying the Philippians. 



Communion with Christ. 53 

Perhaps you remember, mother, that when I was 
at home I read this in the Greek. I find that that 
reading is of considerable advantage to me, and 
saves me now much time. 

" I have three private students, and my time is 
pretty well occupied. 

" Yesterday (Sunday) was, indeed, a good day 
to us at Bowdoin Square. Five were baptized in 
the morning ; there was a good and full Sabbath- 
school, and very interesting meetings in the 
evening. With us, as with you, it was the day for 
the partaking of the Lord's Supper. 

" I tried to work as I could in my Sabbath-school 
class, and with others ; but there was, throughout 
the day, as well as a desire to serve my Master, a 
sense of God's goodness and love, that led me to 
long more earnestly to labor for him. 

" I had been thinking of my class, and of work 
for souls, and it was good for me to feel that 
Christ said to me in the Supper : c The desire that 
you should work for me is not all that is in my 
heart in reference to you ; it is well to be anxious 
that others should come to me, but to yourself I 
would speak ; behold, I have loved you with an 
everlasting love ; you are mine ; I have loved you, 
and given myself for you.' 

" Mother, isn't it a blessed thing to feel that our 
Lord comes to every one that has trusted in him, 
and to every individual follower of his, he brings 
this comforting assurance. ' Behold, thou art 



54 A Consecrated Life. 

mine ; behold, I have loved thee with an everlast- 
ing love.' 

"We may rest in his love; that everlasting, 
boundless love, which we can never fully compre- 
hend, for it passes knowledge ; that love, not for 
his people as a whole body, merely, but for every 
individual whom he has redeemed and called to 
himself. 

" The seven o'clock meeting was, as usual, 
crowded, and there was much interest. 

"I came out here this morning feeling like a 
new man, my weariness of Saturday all gone ; 
and with the desire to consecrate the week to the 
Master, and with a quickened desire to use what 
influence and what opportunities I may have to 
bring those about me unto Christ." 

He had for a long time been praying for the 
conversion of his father ; and now the glad time 
has come, when he hears from him that he desires 
to be one of Christ's followers, to which he replies 
thus : 

" Newton Centre, Mar. 12th, 1869. 
" My Dear Fathee : I received your letter 
yesterday. It did me good. It was what I had 
been praying for. I was rejoiced more than I can 
tell, to hear that you wish to seek Christ, with 
your whole heart, and that you desire to have no 



Letter to his Father. 55 

will of your own, but to do what the Lord would 
have you do. 

" Thanks be to God for that ; he has given you 
the desire. But you must trust him; that is just 
what you need to do now. 

" God has promised to accept in Christ those 
that repent of their sins, those that turn to him 
and choose his service. Christ has said: 'Him 
that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out/ 

" Just take him at his word. You can't doubt 
his promises. He means just what he says. 

" Christ came on earth, and became man, and 
lived, and died on the cross just in order to redeem 
all that would come to him ; and will he hesitate 
to receive them when they come ? 

" Yes, he came and died for you, and will he 
not receive you if you turn to him and wish to be 
his ? This is the precious Gospel, salvation through 
Christ to every one who will accept. 

"But somehow you don't have the assurance 
that Christ accepts you. 

" You are not to wait for any miraculous assur- 
ance, but just trust him fully, knowing that he is 
faithful ; seek his direction, and go forward in his 
p?tths. 

" You can hardly think how much joy your let- 
ter caused me ; for I feel that it is the Holy Spirit 
that has begun the work in you, and that that 
same Holy Spirit will complete it. 

" This matter of faith is so simple that we don't 



56 A Consecrated Life. 

understand it, May God help you just to believe 
his promises, and trust him fully. 

" Affectionately your son, 

"Edwin D. Kelley." 

To his parents : 

" Newton Centre, Apr. 26th, 1869. 

" I am thinking constantly, of 

course, in regard to my future work. 

"I think I am now entirely and thoroughly 
convinced that it is not my duty to be a teacher 
in this country, but that I can best serve God by 
going to the dark places of the earth to proclaim 
the Gospel. 

" Pray for me, all of you, that I may be guided 
aright ; that God may direct me in the way in 
which I can best serve him. 

" Mother, your letter made me glad ; the letter 
in which you spoke of the sense which you had of 
the love of Christ. 

" I suppose, if we look at things rightly, we may 
feel that he is ours, and we are his ; that out of 
his free mercy and his infinite love he accepts us, 
and watches over us with constant and tender 
care ; that he is our refuge and our strength, and 
that none can pluck us out of his hands. 

" I have felt lately more of perfect trust in God. 
I am his, and he cares for me ; he does ; and will 



Happy Security of the Believer. 57 

direct all things both for his glory and for my 
good. 

" Worthless as I am, he can help me, he can use 
even me. The thought humbles me, while at the 
same time it gives me courage, and leads me to 
praise his wonderful grace. 

" The thought that God is my God, and is ever 
present with me, that Christ, according to his 
promise, is with me every day, is the thought that 
encourages me with reference to my future worlcT 

Mr. Kelley had strong faith in prayer, a child- 
like confidence in his Father, and at times received 
signal answers to his petitions. Some of these he 
mentions in the following letter to a friend, written 
from the home of his parents, during his vacation : 

" Ann Arbor, July 8th, 1869. 

. . . . " I return after an absence of ten 
or eleven months, during which I have been pray- 
ing for specific blessings for each of our family 
here ; and I find every one of those prayers an- 
swered. I find my father, who had so long been 
hesitating, now fully and openly given to Christ. 

. . . " It is wonderful — but not more won- 
derful than all God's dealings with us ; God is always 
an answerer of prayer, a bestower of undeserved 
favors — wonders of grace, upon those who were 
his enemies. 

" How wonderfully he has blessed me during 



58 A Consecrated Life. 

the past year, not only in answering those prayers, 
but how he has brought me near him, and taught 
me of himself as a friend, and shown me how to 
labor for him ; may I never love him less, or be 
less zealous in his service. 

" And then again I hope he has permitted me 
to be of some use in his cause during the past 
year ; and what a blessing is this, that vile as I 
am, and helpless, too, he should sanctify and 
strengthen and make me a ' vessel of honor ' in his 
service. Are not these blessings that deserve 
thanks beyond expression ? . . . . 

" It seems very good to be back in the dear old 
church once more, to hear the old voices, and to 
receive a cordial welcome. 

" God grant that I, whom he has so wonderfully 
blessed, may be humble as well as faithful in all 
these meetings, and in all my intercourse with my 
dear brethren here. 

" It seems strange that, just when we should be 
most humble, then, if we are not on our guard, the 
temptation of pride comes upon us. Do you ever 
find it so ? 

•" May He by whose unmerited favor we have 
received all that we possess, or ever did possess, 
keep us with His own power from the devices of 
the adversary." 

Mr. Kelley had hoped, during this vacation, to 
find a church that he could supply, which would 



At Home. 59 

give him an opportunity of proclaiming the gospel, 
and at the same time assist him financially in his 
studies, but in this he was not successful. However, 
he was not idle during the summer months, for many 
hours a day were spent in assisting one of the pro- 
fessors of the University, who was preparing some 
mathematical works for the press ; while at the 
same time every opportunity to work for Jesus 
was gladly improved; and thus he writes to the 
same friend : 

" Ann Arbor, July 23d, 1869. 

" I preached yesterday, and it was, I think, the 
best day that I have spent since coming home ; 
I believe God gave me something to say to the 
people, and I tried to deliver the message faith- 
fully. I have no doubt J — , that God blessed that 
word. I prayed, and I believe that he accepted 
the petition, that he would make the truth then 
proclaimed the means of much good. For his own 
name's sake, the prayer is heard. 

" I had also an opportunity to do some work in 
the way of personal conversation, and leaving 
some tracts ; the evening found me very tired, but 
Oh, so thankful to God that he had called me into 
his service. 

"J — , let us try to live very near our Lord, 
serving him with all our powers, and rejoicing in 
his work. May God's blessing be with you, may 



60 A Consecrated Life. 

you have our Saviour's presence, and be serving 
him." 

In a letter to his aunt, Mrs. Tucker, dated Aug. 
2d, 1869, after speaking of having preached, he 
says : 

" I look forward with joy to the time when my 
whole time will be given more directly to pro- 
claiming the Gospel of salvation. I believe I de- 
sire, with some degree of earnestness, to abide in 
Christ, and so bring forth much fruit. Yes, I 
believe it is the chief desire of my heart to serve 
my Master, and yet, I am a very, very poor ser- 
vant. 

" Yesterday we had an excellent sermon from 
John x. 17 : 18. The subject was the voluntary 
offering of Christ ; voluntary on his own part, and 
voluntary on the part of the Father. There was no 
necessity of any kind that God should send his 
Son, or that Christ should undertake our redemp- 
tion by laying down his life ; none but the necessity 
of infinite love. The sermon did me good. It 
was humbling to compare the love of God for us, 
and what Christ has done for us, to the love we 
bear to him, and the service we render him. 

" Yet, knowing my own un worthiness, my utter 
sinfulness, I would just give myself to Christ, and 
be not passively, but actively his. I hope to live 
nearer him, and be more entirely conformed to his 



At Home. 61 

will than I have been. With the hope that God 
may prosper you in all things, and especially bless 
you with a constant trust in him." 

Those who know nought of the experience of the 
Christian's warfare with indwelling sin, and recall 
Mr. Kelley's purity of life, and his constant devo- 
tion to Christ, will doubtless consider his confes- 
sions extravagant in the following epistle to a 
friend, which reveals how he mourned over the 
condition of his own heart, and also his lack of 
faithfulness in the Master's cause — when it was 
truly his all absorbing interest. 

His mourning, however, is soon turned into re- 
joicing : 

" Ann Arbor, Aug. 21st, 1869. 

. . . " I am utterly unfaithful in the ser- 
vice of the Lord. I am so grovelling and sinful in 
my thoughts, and seem so utterly devoid of any 
controlling love to Christ. What I attempt to do 
for him, to whom I say that I have given myself, 
seems to spring neither from a fervent love nor 
from a steady purpose, but appears to be merely 
a few spasmodic efforts. 

" The Lord has given me, this summer, a good 
place to work among the people here ; the church 
is, in some respects, in a wrong condition ; and I, 
in the providence of God, was so placed that I 
could reach all parties, as no other one could ; and 



62 A Consecrated Life. 

had I been faithful, living myself near to Jesus, 
abiding in him, seeking the direction and assistance 
of the Holy Spirit, I do firmly believe that the 
result would have been a united church and a 
powerful revival among us ; but I have not thus 
been, as I might and should have been, wholly 
given to Christ. 

" O, that I might conquer sin now, that I might 
not live as I have lived ! O, that I might always 
learn to do the work which Christ has for me to 
do at the moment ! That I might resist temptation 
just when the temptation comes ; and be, indeed, 
one that has overcome the wicked one ; and then 
serve my Lord with a steadfast spirit. 

" I suppose you will misunderstand me, and say 
that what I write shows a hungering and thirsting 
after righteousness which others do not have ; and 
so you will think the more highly of me for it. 
But it is not so. I, who should be hungering and 
thirsting for righteousness, am, or at least seem, 
almost spiritually dead. I, who, from the mercy 
that has been shown to me, should so abound in 
love to my Saviour, seem almost utterly indifferent 
to the interests of his kingdom, and appear to love 
sin better than him. I, who should, through all 
the discipline of God's providence, be pure and 
spiritual, am not to some extent merely, but it 
would seem almost utterly base and sinful. Con- 
stantly receiving his grace, I as constantly sin 
against that grace. 



At Rome. 63 

" Again and again he places me in responsible 
positions ; again and again I prove faithless. 

" I cry for deliverance from my sinfulness, but 
when deliverance comes, I refuse it and yield to 
temptation ; I seem to prefer my own ease to the 
service of the Lord. If I only desired to be 
delivered from the terrible sinfulness of heart, I 
might be ; and I think I do most earnestly desire ; 
but the next moment this desire passes away, and 
I am self-satisfied and indifferent. J — , pray for 
me. Alas ! that I, who have been so abundantly 
blessed, and who have been taught the way co 
plainly, should be, of all others, so sunken in sin ! 
Alas ! that I, who, had I only been the Lord's, 
might have done so much for him, should have 
been so faithless ; and perhaps might have been 
the cause of saving some from going down to 
eternal death ! 

"The Lord Jesus will be with me to-morrow 
(the Sabbath) I know ; and he will bless our meet- 
ings ; but, O ! for his spirit to dwell within me 
constantly." 

"Aug. 23d. 
" I will write a few words to you this (Monday) 
morning. Yesterday was a good day, to me at 
least. The pastor was away, but Prof. Ten- Brook 
preached in the morning. He asked me to preach 
in the evening. I hardly knew whether I ought 
to or not, but did. 



64 A Consecrated Life. 

" I spoke upon Luke xi:13; the subject being 
the necessity and the encouragement to pray for 
the Holy Spirit's presence. The subject has been 
on my thoughts and in my heart for weeks. Four 
of us young men met in the looming to pray for 
this very thing. 

" May God give that truth power, and may he 
send his Holy Spirit upon us. 

" J — , I thank God that, notwithstanding my 
unworthiness, he has so abundantly blessed me. I 
thank him that he has met me, that he has come 
into my own heart ; that I have drawn away from 
sin nearer him. He hears the cry of his children. 
I thank him for the blessing that has come ; and 
he will enable us to serve him, and be near him, 
abiding in him." 

Again we find him back in Newton, at his loved 
employ of preparation, as he doubtless thought, 
for years of labor on earth for his Master. But, 
during this time of study, he enjoys the privilege 
of preaching in various directions ; in the following 
letter he refers to one such occasion : 

" Newton Centre, Sept. 29th, 1869. 

" Dear Parents : You have heard, I suppose, 
that aunt Elmira and uncle Stillman have been 
here. 

" It does me good to talk with aunt Elmira ; she 



Return to Newton. 65 

is so warm in her Christian love, and so full of 
trust in her Saviour, and of praise to him. 

" Last Saturday I went up to West Chelmsford, 
where I preached on the Sabbath, in the morning 
and also in the afternoon. Notwithstanding the 
preacher's faults, I think that the people took 
home what was said, and that the Lord made it 
useful. 

" In the evening, at the prayer-meeting, we had, 
indeed, the presence of our Lord; and it was a 
most excellent meeting. As we were going out 
one of the company said, c It was just like the 
Lord — to come when we were not expecting him.' 
However, some were expecting him, and he came 
in answer to prayer." 

To Mrs. Tucker : 

" Newton Centre, Dec. 4th, 1869. 

" My Deab Aunt : I don't know but you will 
think I have forgotten to write to you ; but such 
is not the case. 

"I am very busy doing some teaching and 
considerable study outside of the regular required 
studies. 

" I sometimes feel that I cannot thank God 
enough for the blessings he gives me. He has 
placed me where I can be studying his Word ; 
where I can, by study and prayer, seek a more 



66 A Consecrated Life. 

intimate communion with him, and a fuller knowl- 
edge of his truth ; and he is thus preparing me for 
the great and blessed work to which, I believe, he 
has called me. I know that the work here and 
the work in Burmah is all one ; and the spirit that 
would lead one to work there, will lead him to 
work here also ; and I hope I may labor for my 
Master wherever I am; but it seems to me an 
especially great and blessed privilege to proclaim 
the Gospel among the darkened ones of heathen 
lands. 

" I look forward with joy to the time when we 
shall be trying, with all our powers, to make 
known to the heathen the way of life. We need 
to remember our own weakness, and that the 
power is of God. 

"I have been especially impressed lately with 
the thought, that I need to be now and constantly 
in thorough earnest in Christ's cause. ' Fervent in 
spirit, serving the Lord.' 

" I think he is leading me nearer him, and giving 
me more of his grace ; and I would trust in him, 
and rejoice in him ; trust him in view of the sure 
deliverance from sin, and also trust him to work 
through me, and accomplish his gracious purposes, 
for which he sends his messengers. 

" Here, I believe, is where my salvation is found ; 
in constant watchfulness, constant prayer, constant 
trust." 



" The Happiest Hours:' 67 

"Neivton Centre, Bee. 10th, 1869. 

" Dear Father and Mother : I think of you 
again and again, and want to hear more from you, 
to know what you are doing, and how the work of 
grace is going on in your hearts."* 

" Mother, I am so sorry that you have so lonely 
a time. If you had the privilege of attending the 
meetings more, it would be very pleasant. I am 
sorry that it must be so ; and pray for you, that in 
some way this loss may be made good. There is a 
way in which it can be made good ; that is, by the 
Saviour's presence. 

" I suppose, however favored we may be with 
Christian friends, it is true that, if we be Christ's, 
the happiest hours of our lives are those which 
have been spent in solitary communion with God. 
We were alone, yet not alone. Yet there is a 
communion with Christ, in the presence of others, 
which is hardly, if any, less joyful. We have felt 
it when some friend of ours, whom we had prayed 
and labored for, openly professed Christ ; and 
often have experienced it as we were gathered 
with the redeemed of the Lord about his table, 
when his love to us was set forth. But the source 
of this joy was communion with the Lord ; it was, 
and ever is, the Lord's presence that brings the 
brightest joy and the deepest peace. And this 
presence we may have when alone, as much and as 

* Since this work was prepared for the press, this dear mother has passed to 
her heavenly home. 



68 A Consecrated Life. 

freely as when with others. If we seek, if we ask 
him, he comes. 

" I have been reading Romans lately ; and isn't 
it grand ? The reasoning is sublime. 

" How clearly Paul shows that all men are under 
condemnation for their sins ; that, by the deeds of 
the law, no one, Jew or heathen, could be justified ; 
that there is a righteousness which is bestowed 
upon those who believe ; and it is thus not of law, 
or of debt, but of faith and of grace. I want to 
understand more and more of these sublime and 
precious truths, which are inwrought into all our 
Christian experience. 

" This morning I found an expression which 
seems to embody a good deal of my experience 
lately. It was : ' Serving in newness of spirit, and 
not in oldness of letter.' This has been my mis- 
take, as I have been led to see, of late ; I have 
tried to do specific outward duties, and to avoid 
specific outward evils, without directing my atten- 
tion so much to the heart ; thinking, that if the 
outward conduct were right, it was an evidence of 
a right heart. The result was, that neither the 
heart nor the outward life was right. 

" I have been led to see that the true way is to 
love and praise my God and my Redeemer, from 
the heart, and let the outward conduct flow from 
this love ; and if the outward conduct be appar- 
ently right, and yet there is not in my heart this 



Dr. Hovey as an Interpreter. 69 

spirit of consecration and love and praise to Him 
who has bought me, all is wrong." 

To the same : 

" Newton Centre, Feb. 8th, 1870. 

" I believe I am learning to prize more than 
ever the opportunities that we have here for the 
study of the teaching of the Bible. This second 
year of the course is, I am inclined to think, the 
most important year. 

" We are taking up the doctrines of the Bible 
in systematic order; and when any subject is 
brought us, the main question is, ' What does the 
Bible teach upon this point ? ' Dr. Hovey is 
almost a model for an unprejudiced, fair-minded 
interpreter ; he has no theory to establish, but 
wishes to ascertain what the teaching of the Bible 
is. So we are taught by example, as well as pre- 
cept, to go to the Scriptures — not to our own 
reason — for our views of religious truths." 

To the same : 

" Newton Centre, Mar. 15th, 1870. 

" I have not heard from you for some time. I 
would like to be with you, but the next best thing 
is frequent correspondence. 

" We are not having very difficult studies just 
now, and, were it not for my teaching, I should 



70 A Consecrated Life. 

not be much hurried. When I finish another task 
that is assigned to me, I hope, even with the 
teaching, I shall have more time for miscellaneous 
duties. 

" I enjoy my work very much, and believe it is 
just what God would have me doing. Weak and 
sinful as I am, I find sometimes great delight in 
the thought that God is leading me ; and that he 
gives me the wonderful privilege — which I had 
never known but for his grace — of trying to do 
that which is pleasing to him. Is it not, indeed, a 
blessed work, in which the Christian is permitted 
to be constantly engaged ? Does it not bring in 
itself joy and peace — that of trying to order one's 
life in conformity with God's will ? 

" Sin is deep down in our hearts, and the con- 
test against it is a hard and a humiliating one ; 
but, through God's grace, we are fighting against 
it, appearances to the contrary notwithstanding; 
and through Christ we shall finally and forever 
overcome. 

" If we engage sincerely in the conflict, we have 
the encouragement of our Master's presence, and 
the joy that springs from the consciousness of his 
approval. 

" It is only when we sink into indifference or 
despondency, that the contest becomes a cheerless 
one. 

" I have had my mind directed, particularly of 
late, to the thought of our activity in the work of 



The Christian Warfare. 71 

our salvation. We are not mere machines. It is 
true, Gocl works through us ; the whole work is ot 
God ; yet it is his purpose, I think, to give us a 
true, right character, so that we shall love that 
which is right, and hate that which is wrong. 

" His work is carried on in us, only when it leads 
us of ourselves to work out our own salvation. 

" So that we are not to sit idly down, praying 
that God will make us holy, and overcome the evil 
which we see within us ; but we are ever to resist 
evil, and strive to conform ourselves to God's will. 

" Thus will the work of grace go on in our 
hearts ; and thus the purpose of God, to take us 
sinners, and give us a wholly new moral nature, to 
bring us back into moral union with him, be 
accomplished. What a mighty undertaking God 
has, in his mercy, contemplated, and will, in his 
wisdom, execute ! . . . . 

" Affectionately your son, 

"Edwin D. Kelley." 



CHAPTER IV. 

EARLY in the summer of 1870 his second year 
at Newton closed. After such close applica- 
tion to his studies and other work, he was in a 
condition to rest and recruit ; but the work of the 
Master had greater attractions than the relaxation 
from study which he much needed. He had un- 
dertaken the pastorate of a church, to which he 
refers in the following extract from a letter to his 
parents, dated : 

" Neivton Centre, June 9th. 
" I expect to-morrow to go to South Randolph, 
Mass., to labor during the vacation. Remember 
me and the work there in your prayers. I am 
hopeful that much good may be done ; not by me, 
but by the Spirit of God." 
72 



Pastoral Work. 73 

After his first Sabbath there he thus writes to a 
friend, under date : 

" So. Randolph, June Will, 1870. 

" There was no meeting last evening on account 
of the storm, and I was somewhat disappointed ; 
but there is to be a church and covenant meeting 
this (Sat.) evening. I expect to preach two ser- 
mons to-morrow." 

" Monday Noon. 

" You will wish to know what kind of a day 
we had yesterday. Very good indeed, consider- 
ing the preacher's state of preparation. 

"I enjoyed both the morning and afternoon 
service ; we had a good Sunday-school, and an in- 
teresting Sunday-school concert in the evening. 

" I like the spirit with which the church take 
hold of the work. I believe, if we ask for Christ's 
sake, we may see many conversions here this sum- 
mer. 

" There seems to be quite a number of young 
people, or persons in middle life, who attend the 
meetings, and acknowledge the importance of 
being Christ's disciples ; yet who manifest and 
probably feel no special interest. Won't you pray 
for these, that the Spirit may awaken them and 
lead them to Christ? I do want to see them 
brought within his fold. 

" If there was not so much of self in all that I 
do (I don't mean self-seeking, for that had not 



74 A Consecrated Life. 

much place in my heart in my coming here, but I 
mean looking upon myself too much as the one 
that is doing or is to do the work, and not enough 
to God) ; but he can teach me my errors, and can 
work notwithstanding them. May he work for 
his own name's sake. 

" Pray for me, and Christ's cause among us." 

He gave himself thoroughly to the up-building 
of Christ's cause in this place, feeling that the 
spiritual interests of the people for the time rested 
upon him. Each Sabbath he preached two ser- 
mons, taught a Bible-class in the Sabbath-school, 
and conducted a prayer-meeting in the even- 
ing. ^ 

Prayer-meetings were held during the week; 
while he daily visited from house to house, and con- 
versed with the people on the interest of their 
souls ; in his own gentle, loving manner, strength- 
ening and cheering the weak in faith, and exhort- 
ing the impenitent to seek Christ. 

Here, too, he labored indefatigably for the build- 
ing of a church, and had the pleasure of going 
through the building, while the men were work- 
ing on it, just before he sailed for Burmah. In 
the following letter we see that the Holy Spirit 
seemed to be moving on the hearts of some. He also 
expresses his own feelings in the matter of labor- 
ing for the salvation of souls : 



Pastoral Work. 75 

" So. Randolph, Jane 18th, 1870. 

" Dear Parents : I suppose you are waiting 
in the hope that I may come home ; but I think I 
shall have to disappoint you in that. 

" The church here is made up of elements, not 
all of which are perfectly harmonious ; but they 
are now, I think, working together well ; and 
there is a feeling of union and harmony. It was 
not so hitherto, and this state of things might very 
easily be disturbed. 

" Again, there is a good deal of interest among 
those who have not been the followers of Christ. 
It seems to be the beginning of better things here. 

" We had a very interesting prayer-meeting last 
evening, and the man at whose house it was held, 
this morning expressed a wish to come before the 
church, and unite with it openly. I think that 
his heart is changed, and am glad that he feels the 
necessity of publicly professing his faith in Christ. 
His wife has for some time been interested, and I 
hope will soon follow him. And others are inter- 
ested ; while some of the church are praying for 
and expecting the conversion of these, and the ad- 
vancement of the work; I don't like, under such 
circumstances, to be away for more than a week. 
I would like to come home, but if it would have a 
bad influence on the work here I don't wish to go, 
even for the great consideration which would lead 
me home for a short time. 

" If I can better serve the cause of my Master, 



76 A Consecrated Life. 

and the work of bringing sinners unto Christ, both 
you and I will feel that this is the way we would 
choose. 

" Even if we are separated so much here on 
earth, the years that we spend here are few, and I 
hope we shall be together forever above. Our joy 
then will be all the greater, will it not ? that we 
here endured separation and privation for the 
sake of serving our Saviour and winning others to 
him." 

A little later, in a letter to a friend, he says : 

"We had a good meeting Tuesday evening. 
One young woman, who once professed Christ, 
but who afterwards lost her interest, thinks she 
has now found him. I hope she is really trusting 
in her Saviour. She thinks she was not a Chris- 
tian before. She is a sister of the one of whom I 
told you, who was so very anxious — and that one is 
still, with, I hope, undiminished interest, trying to 
find the Christian way — or the Christian's joy ; 
perhaps that is what most seek for until they 
become Christ's. 

" Pray for us. I trust the good work may go 
forward. 

" May God help me to aid them in my sermons, 
and elsewhere, also." 

To the same : 



Pastoral Work. 77 

" July 11th. 

" Yesterday was a beautiful clay, and it passed 
pleasantly to me. In the morning I spoke from 
the text, c Fear not little flock ; it is your Father's 
good pleasure to give you the kingdom ; ' in the 
afternoon from the words, ' Except ye repent, ye 
shall all likewise perish.' In the afternoon I had 
more freedom than I ever had before in preaching 
without notes. 

" May the Lord help me to present his truth 
with power ; and may he grant the Holy Spirit to 
make it effective. I am glad you are praying for 
me. Try to ask what love to Christ would prompt, 
and God will bless the work here in answer to 
your prayers. With some discouraging things in 
the present and previous condition of the church, 
there are very many encouraging things. 

" Our neighborhood prayer-meetings are very 
interesting." 

To the same : 

" July 21st. 

"Tuesday evening we had a good meeting. 
Before it closed, two young women of whom I 
spoke to you, rose for prayers. They were very 
anxious, having no hope that they were accepted 
through Christ. 

" These two, whom I had asked to come and talk 
with me, and three others, who are interested 



78 A Consecrated Life. 

inquirers for a personal salvation, I had to-day the 
privilege of talking with. 

" It is a delightful privilege to be permitted to 
point anxious souls to Christ. What a Saviour we 
are able to tell of ; and how free are the offers of 
salvation, which we are permitted to present ! " 

To the same : 

"July 25th. 

" I preached without notes yesterday morning, 
from Psalm cxvi : 12. ' What shall I render unto 
the Lord for all his benefits towards me ? ' In the 
afternoon, from Matthew xi : 28 - 30 ; ' Come unto 
me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
will give you rest.' I had been thinking, during 
the week, of preaching from another text ; but it 
did not take hold of nry heart as I wished it to, so 
Saturday I was led to choose, I hope, this one in 
Matthew ; and wrote the sermon out in full, com- 
pleting it in a few hours. I had hoped that it 
would be blessed to the people. Perhaps I was 
relying too much on human wisdom and power. 
I desire that God may keep me from this. 

" The young lady that I told you I thought was 
interested, I have since talked with. She acknowl- 
edged an interest, and seemed quite anxious. I 
hoped she and others would be helped by Sunday 
afternoon's discourse." 



Pastoral Work. 79 

The following extract from the same letter 
reveals the spirit of Christian charity, which was 
one of his prominent characteristics. While he 
saw the faults of his brethren, his spirit towards 
them was ever that of Christian love : 

u I think the two persons who do not seem to be 
working with the church, and whose course has 
caused some trouble, have, by no means, gone 
back to the world, nor given up their hope in 
Christ, or his service. While their course, I think, 
has not been what it should have been, I fear there 
has been a great lack of brotherly love, in the 
treatment shown to them by some of the members 
of the church; that love that thinketh no evil, 
that suffereth long, and is kind. Of course this 
does not excuse them ; but it does partly explain 
their conduct. 

" We need to learn to obey that injunction : 4 If 
any man be overtaken in a fault, ye that are spir- 
itual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness ; 
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 5 " 

Mr. Kelley was eminently a man of prayer. The 
following petition was written by him at this time. 
We have hesitated in giving publicity to it, be- 
cause of its sacred character ; but, as this imper- 
fect sketch is intended to bring out, to a limited 
extent, his consecration to Christ, it seems fitting 
that it should have a place here : 



80 A Consecrated Life. 

" My Saviour, who art my only trust, who art 
the object of my heart's deepest and truest love, 
who alone can satisfy the wants of my soul ; I can 
speak to thee, and thou hearest ; I can write these 
words to thee, and thou dost look on and behold 
them. 

"My Saviour, I would hold communion with 
thee ; I would have thy presence in my heart ; I 
would have this as the gate of heaven; nay, as 
heaven itself, because of thy presence. For the 
joy of heaven is that thou art there ; and if we 
have thee, even here below, it may be like heaven 
to us. O, my Saviour ! come thou and be with 
me ; bless me this hour ; bless me this day. Jesus, 
come and sanctify me ; make me like thyself ; take 
away the carnal heart from me, and give me a 
heart full of love to thee — a heart in which thou 
dost reign supreme ; a heart that shall lead me, 
dear 'Saviour, to do thy will. Jesi^s, I love thee. 
O, that I may love thee as I ought, and be single- 
hearted in thy service ! And Jesus, be with me, 
O, I pray thee, be with me at this time ! Thou 
seest the work I have undertaken for thee, in thy 
name. Is it not, my Lord, the work to which thou 
hast sent me? I trust that it is. And, O, thou 
who art my only strength, be with me in it ! O, 
that souls may be born again ; is it not thy will, 
O Jesus ? These immortal souls, thou seest them .; 
0, that they might be made alive from spiritual 
death ! I have asked that thou wonldst be with 



Pastoral Work. 81 

me ; and I do put up this prayer, for I can do 
nothing without thee ; and O, Saviour ! forget it 
not ; but my prayer for myself is turned into 
prayer for these about me. 

" O, that thy grace might come, and that they 
might be made alive from the dead ! What more 
can I ask for ? O, Saviour ! grant me this. Not by 
might, nor by power, but by thy Spirit. Lord, 
hear my prayer. Amen, amen." 

Those who had the privilege of being associated 
with him from day to day know, to some extent, 
how the Saviour answered his prayer, in giving 
him a likeness to himself; for he possessed in an 
unusual degree the spirit of Christ. 

He thus writes to a friend : 

"July 26th. 
" I have had some very precious seasons of 
communion with Christ ; I think I may say, some 
very precious experiences of his loving kindness. 
How can we measure the height, or depth, or 
length or breadth of his love? D — , let us love 
him fervently." 

"Aug. 8th. 

" I enjoyed the day yesterday. In the morning I 
tried to speak from Psalm v : 4 : ' For thou art 



82 A Consecrated Life. 

not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness, 
neither shall evil dwell with thee.' The subject 
was the hatefulness of sin as it appears in God's 
eyes, and should appear in our eyes. The after- 
noon was devoted to foreign missions. I read a 
sketch of the life of Mr. Thomas,* missionary to 
Burmah, and a collection was taken up for mission 
work. 

" This week I wish, with God's help, to do a 
great deal of work, and a great deal of visiting. 
May God grant wisdom and strength and zeal. 

" I want to tell you some good news. That'young 
lady, who has been so anxious, has now obtained 
a hope ; D — , isn't it good ? She can now trust 
Jesus as her Saviour. I think there is an increas- 
ing interest here. Last evening we had per- 
haps the most impressive prayer-meeting we have 
had since I have been here. The Lord is blessing 
us, and I trust that he will yet more and more. 

" I shall speak next Sunday morning from the 
words c He that humble th himself shall be exalted; ' 
and in the afternoon from the text, 4 And now, 
why tarriest thou; arise, and be baptized, and 
wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the 
Lord.' There are many here that ought to be 
baptized and go on in the service of Christ, who 
are tarrying. I hope that some of them will go 
forward soon. 

* Which Mr. Kelley had prepared. 



Pastoral Work. 83 

u 0, that I may, in the proclamation of the 
truth, set it forth so plainly that it cannot be mis- 
taken." 

" Aug. 18th. 

" Tuesday morning, two young persons, who 
desire to become Christians, came and talked with 
me ; I tried to show them the way and pray for 
them. I hope they are not far from the kingdom 
of heaven. 

" In the evening prayer-meeting, G — H — , who 
has not yet found rest in Christ, requested the 
prayers of the church. After the meeting I talked 
with this one, and also with C — L, — who, I think, 
is really changed in heart, and I trust will have 
grace to follow the example of him who humbled 
himself and was exalted. Last evening, in the 
prayer-meeting, we had a precious season ; I trust 
the Lord led us. L — P — was there, and, for 
the first time, I believe, spoke in meeting. She 
told of the happiness that she had felt within the 
past two weeks, and of her trust in the Saviour. 
It was good to hear her. 

" K — P — was also at the meeting and I hope 
has become Christ's. A — L will be with us 
to-night in the church meeting and relate her 
experience in view of baptism. And there 
are others whom I have not time to write about. 
Pray for us." 



84 A Consecrated Life. 

" Aug. 22d. 

" I feel tired and am not very well, but soon I shall 
rest and recruit ; yet, I shall feel sorry to leave 
the work. I will write very briefly what will 
interest you. A — L — has been accepted for 
baptism. One of those young persons who, I 
wrote you, had come and talked to me last Tues- 
day, came on Saturday and told me that she thought 
her sins were forgiven. I trust she has under- 
standing^ given herself to Christ. She seems to be 
confiding in him with a simple, child-like faith. 
It did me good to talk with her. 

"I would like to write you more about others, 
but am not well and must defer it. Yesterday, 
I preached here in the morning, and at Stoughton 
in the afternoon. Last evening the meeting here 
seemed very impressive. 

" Can you send me a few of ' Come to Jesus ' by 
Newman Hall, also a number of the tract entitled 
4 One who found mercy ? ' " 

" Aug. 24:th. 
" I suppose you received Mrs. S — 's letter, in 
which she told you the condition of her daughter. 
I think I never saw a person in such deep anxiety as 
she is. I have tried to show her the way, and can 
only commit her to Jesus in prayer ; I trust she 
will find light ere long. If she could only see 
that Jesus is willing to forgive even her sins.* 

* She subsequently came out into the light of the Gospel, and was baptized by 
Mr. Kelley ; and has since adorned the profession she then made. 



Pastoral Work. 85 

" My sermon for next Sunday morning, from 
John iv: 50, I think, is intended for those in her 
condition ; but I hope she will be at rest and re- 
joicing in Christ before that time. K — P — told 
me last night, after the meeting, that she thought 
now she had found Christ, and her face seemed 
full of joy as she spoke. 

" I asked her to come up to-day and tell me 
about it. Pray for me, J — , that I may have 
wisdom, I need it so much. There are one or two 
matters especially in which I feel that I need 
divine guidance, that I may do nothing which will 
injure the church here, and omit nothing which 
will promote its efficiency and the honor of 
God. 

" K — P — has just been in ; I think she is 
really converted. How wonderful and gracious is 
God's work ! " 

After Mr. Kelley's ordination he returned to 
South Randolph and baptized some of these young 
converts. 

"JYetvton Centre, Oct. 4th, 1870. 
" Dear, Parents : When I last wrote to you I 
was at South Randolph. I am very glad that I 
had the privilege of working there this summer. 
True, I had to labor pretty hard, and wasn't in 
good bodily or mental condition for work ; but I 
think it did my soul good. 



86 A Consecrated Life. 

"The Lord manifested his presence and his 
power in the apparent, and, I believe, true con- 
version of several. I expect to preach there 
occasionally this winter. 

" After leaving there I was pretty well used up, 
and needed a rest. I tried to recover and recruit, 
and supposed that I had succeeded ; but found 
myself half sick the first week here. I was threat- 
ened with a bilious fever, perhaps. I have, how- 
ever, been growing stronger and healthier since 
then, and can now take hold of my work with 
zeal. 

" God has been very good to me, I feel, in giving 
me the work he has this summer, and now he is 
good in giving me the opportunities for study and 
preparation that I have this year. May he help 
me to improve them ; and to do such direct work 
for him meanwhile as he permits. This summer's 
labor has given me a new desire to be a preacher 
and a pastor ; not a teacher, but one who is labor- 
ing to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and to guide 
souls. 

" I hope, too, that the summer's work has taught 
me more fully, or brought out this truth in my 
experience, my dependence upon God. I can 
effect nothing ; it is not my wisdom, not my power, 
nothing in me ; but if I am humble, and wish 
humbly to serve him, he will use even such feeble 
instrumentalities, and will, with his infinite power, 
do great things. I have found, since coming back 



A Sabbath Day in Salem. 87 

here, that I am in constant clanger of forgetting 
this. May God help me to remember it. I have 
also been again shown, during the summer, how 
surely God hears the humble, earnest prayer. 

" We come to him in our weakness, asking him 
to do what we cannot do, and yet what we feel is 
for the good of his cause — and he does it. That 
which we have longed for is accomplished, and it 
is done by his power, and by that alone. May we 
never fail to give him the glory. 

" A week ago I preached in the First Baptist 
Church at Salem. I went, thinking it was quite a 
fashionable and wealthy church. It is wealthy, I 
believe ; but I came away feeling that it was a 
good church. Their house is almost a model; 
large, very easy to speak in, and not at all gaudy, 
but very neat and tasteful. I prayed that I might 
preach to them the Gospel, even if it were in great 
simplicity. 

" In the morning I preached on the text, ; Believe 
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ; ' 
in the afternoon from ' Jesus Christ the same yes- 
terday, to-day and forever.' In the evening I 
seemed directed to the first part of the fifth chapter 
of Romans, 4 Being justified by faith we have peace 
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ'; and 
the following verses. 

" We had a very good meeting. The thought 
contained in this passage of Romans, and the truths 
contained in the texts from which I had preached 



88 A Consecrated Life. 

during the clay, all blended together, and were 
spoken upon by many. The sermons, I thiuk, 
presented the truth. I believe that meeting im- 
pressed it upon those present. The meeting (and 
the hand-shaking which followed) cheered and did 
me good; indeed, the truth which I Had tried to 
preach, of salvation only through faith in Christ, 
and of the immovable foundation upon which their 
hope rests who trust in him, were impressed more 
deeply upon my own mind, and I saw again how 
dear to the heart of every Christian are these great 
central truths of the Gospel. So I had a good 
day. It was the Lord's doing. I was not well, 
and was perhaps under temptation to forget the 
simplicity of the Gospel — may Christ keep me 
from ever doing that ! But he ' again, and that in 
answer to prayer, was present, and brought forth 
his truth and blessed it to us. Now don't think 
from what I have written that any wonderful im- 
pression was produced, or any unusual good done 
— I don't think that was the case at all ; but, 
under all the circumstances, the clay was a very 
cheering one to me, and I trust not unprofitable 
to the people. 

" Recently Mr. Rose, the returned missionary, 
called here, and had a talk with me about the 
work in Burmah. He spoke particularly of a lit- 
erary and Biblical school which is needed at Ran- 
goon for the Karens. He also spoke of the work 



Thoughts of Future Work. 89 

among the Pwo Karens, among the Burmans, and 
among the Shans. 

" I have come not only to see that preaching the 
Gospel is the highest work to which a man can be 
called, but also to love it, and rejoice in the pros- 
pect that I shall be permitted to guide souls to 
Christ, the Saviour of sinners. True, there would 
be some of this work in connection with the 
school — much more, Bro. Rose says, than in an 
academy in this country ; yet, after all, the school 
would take up the greater part of my labors. It 
is much needed, but I have been hoping that the 
other and better work was mine. What ought I 
to do ? I would say at once, give up the idea of 
the school, and go to the same work as the mis- 
sionaries in general ; only, that I don't know but it 
may be my duty to take the school. My brethren 
here at Newton, I am confident, would so regard 
it. I think the professors would, also ; and it may 
be that this is the place for which I am best 
fitted. But I still hope that it may be my work 
to preach the Gospel and not to teach. Yet, if it 
be my duty to take the school, I don't wish to 
hold back from it. The Lord will direct." 



CHAPTER V. 

F a man love me, he will keep my words : and 
.my Father will love him, and we will come 

unto him, and make our abode with him." — John 

xiv: 23. 

Mr. Kelley thus writes from the Institution to a 

friend, after having moved to rooms that were 

more healthful, in a new part of the building. This 

new abode he dedicates to God. 

"Nov. 7th, 1870. 
" I can write but a few lines, but wish to tell you 
that I am in the new room. How many comforts 
and blessings the Lord gives me ! I ought to lead 
a new life here. The room is very bright and 
cheerful. I came up to-night and the full moon 
was shining in — my first evening here; it has 
90 



A Humble Spirit* CI 

been beautiful both within and without. May the 
Lord help me, indeed, to lead a new life in the 
midst of the purifying and elevating influences he 
has. placed around me. 

" I hope this room may be not only beautiful for 
its situation and its furnishing, but O ! that it may 
be blessed by the constant presence of the Master 
himself. D — , I hope and pray for so much of 
spiritual blessing during my life here." 

To his parents : 

" Newton Centre, Dec. 5th, 1870. 

" Perhaps it is needless to say that I am very, 
very busy. It is Monday night, and I am rather 
tired. I preached yesterday up in New Hamp- 
shire, and was up at five o'clock this morning to 
come back. Yesterday I enjoyed the truth; 
though poorly spoken, it did me more good than 
on some previous occasions, and I trust was not 
without use to the people. God uses the weak 
things of earth, but my own pride and inclination 
to self-sufficiency often stands sadly in the way of 
the work, I fear. I wish, with the help of God, to 
try and overcome these obstacles within me — 
these spiritual hindrances especially, — and I trust 
that he will use me in the place which he designs 
for me. 

" Bro. Goodell and myself called on Dr. Warren 
and told him we were ready to come before the 



92 A Consecrated Life. 

committee. So I trust that we shall soon know 
something more definite in regard to our probable 
field of labor. 

He spoke of the proposed School (Rangoon 
College) for the Karens, and said Dr. Hovey had 
me in view for that place. I don't want to take 
it, unless it is really the work that I ought to do. 

" I have just taken again one of the pupils that 
I had last year, and shall have to labor very vigor- 
ously to accomplish all that devolves upon me. 
But I don't take time either from sleep or exer- 
cise, to devote to study ; and so do not fear being 
sick. On the contrary, I have gained several 
pounds in flesh since coming back in the fall, and 
my general health is vastly improved." 

Here we may be permitted to speak of one trait 
in Mr. Kelley's character, to which allusion has 
not been made, i. e., his generosity. To give to 
God's cause, and to needy objects, he considered 
was a luxurious privilege. True, his means were 
very limited, but usually the old adage holds 
good " Where there is a will, there is a way." He 
loved to give secretly, as we have discovered in 
different ways. Many little incidents might be 
cited in proof of this statement. To a poor 
church, which he occasionally supplied, on one 
occasion, to our knowledge, he sent one of his 
fellow-students to preach, and paid him himself. 
One morning it so happened that, after paying all 



Appointment as a Missionary. 93 

his bills, he had just five dollars left ; then came 
the query, what should he do with it ? A long- 
desired and needed book, and several necessary 
articles, each of which this sum would just pro- 
cure, presented themselves; but, while deliber- 
ating on the article most needed, a letter was 
passed to him, informing him of the very straight- 
ened circumstances of a beloved pastor. He im- 
mediately posted the five dollars to him. After 
mailing it, the post-master handed him a letter, 
which he found contained a gift of one hundred 
dollars. And thus his bountiful Father rewarded 
him. 

Newton Centre, Dec. %\st, 1870. 
"Dear Pabexts: I have been waiting till 
I should know something more definite about the 
prospect of going to Burmah. Last Tuesday, Bro. 
Goodell and myself went before the committee, 
and after a brief examination were appointed 
missionaries of the Union. I feel that it is a great 
work to which we are looking forward, and I think 
I do praise God for his wonderful grace to me. I 
am very sinful, very unworthy ; I fail to keep his 
glory constantly in view as I ought, but I trust 
that he will help me through faith in him to lead 
a better life. 

" It is a great privilege to labor for Christ, 
and I doubt not thus laboring will contribute 



94 A Consecrated Life. 

much to my own growth in grace. I need to be a 
truer and more faithful servant of the Lord ; but 
the fact that I am not is not a reason why I should 
shrink from the work to which he calls me, but 
should rather enter upon it in his strength, and 
trust him to bring my own heart more into his 



"Jan. 2d, 1871. 

" A happy New Year to you all. 

" I went into Bowdoin Square Church yesterday, 
having my old Sabbath-school class. I might have 
gone to preach, but I found some one else to do 
that, as I wished to spend the day in the city. 

" It was the first day of the pastorate of Rev. 
Mr. Reeves. He is a young man of marked intel- 
lectual ability, and I hope he has also more essen- 
tial qualifications. His sermons are good. There 
was a baptism in the morning. 

" Miss Kate Blackaclar, J — 's sister, is evidently 
fast sinking iii consumption. It is very sad ; but 
she talks cheerfully of her Saviour and the glories 
of the eternal world ; it is good to see her so 
trusting in Christ, her trust growing firmer and 
her hope brighter as she draws near — not to the 
dark valley, but rather to the brightness and glory 
of our eternal home. Jesus is indeed with her. 
It is a new, and though a sad, yet a rejoicing expe- 
rience to me to be with an intimate friend that 
trusts in Christ, and see that friend consciously 



Christ Fulfilling his Promise. 95 

losing hold on life, and see how Jesus supports the 
soul. 

" Do you remember, mother, the sermon I 
preached when at home, upon that glorious text, 
c Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-daj^, and 
forever ? ' I believe I know more and more the 
truth of that sermon ; and I believe that all who 
trust in Christ will learn more and more the 
truth of that text even until that day when we 
shall see him as he is, and know him as we are 
known. 

" What a perfect Saviour Jesus is. O, that 
we may heartily give ourselves to him a living 
sacrifice, and thus do whatever and all that we 
can, for him who has laid us under such an infi- 
nite debt of love. 

" Write me all about home matters. . . . 

" I hope above all, that all will be so guided as 
is best for our spiritual good — and also that we 
shall be enabled to deal justly with all, giving all 
their clue. Sometimes even apparent evils are 
blessings in disguise, leading us to feel more 
deeply our entire dependence upon God, and to 
lay ourselves more heartily upon his altar. 

" I saw Dr. Murdock this morning. He spoke to 
me of the proposed Rangoon College ; but I told 
him I preferred he would not bring the subject of 
appointing me to that place before the committee 
just at present. 

" There is already a Theological School for the 



96 A Consecrated Life. 

Karens, and if I accept the proposed position, my 
work would be more that of general education. 
I hesitate about accepting that place ; I have 
hoped the Lord called me to preach the Gospel of 
salvation, and not engage in secular teaching, 
even though the latter be for a religious end. I 
know that the work of education is a much needed 
one, and perhaps I ought to take it up, but I don't 
know. I cannot at present decide to do it. May 
the Lord help me >to decide aright. Pray for me. 
I think I wish to do whichever will best please 
Christ. If you see Dr. Burton, you may tell him, 
if you please, how the matter stands ; perhaps he 
may have a word of advice. 

" Love to all — the best of earthly blessings, 
and especially spiritual blessings, be your lot. 

" I hope the church may be blest abundantly." 

To the same : 

" Newton Centre, Jan. 31st, 1871. 

" Our vacation is over, and I am back in New- 
ton again. 

" May God help me not only to work diligently, 
but also especially to grow in grace. This I feel 
is the best and most needed preparation for preach- 
ing the Gospel. If I were baptized with the 
Spirit, then I could preach, and souls would be 
blessed ; I think I sincerely desire that this term 
may be a good one to me in this respect ; — this 



Grace Victorious Over Death. 97 

which is so much more important than all things 
else. 

" I wrote to you of poor Kate ; she is rich in 
the chief thing. She is suffering constantly, but 
it is blessed to see how even in the midst of her 
sufferings she trusts in Christ, and is made peace- 
ful by the thought of him. Even when her mind 
seems wandering under the influence of the medi- 
cines, she talks intelligently upon this subject as 
upon no other. 

" I have been led to thank God that when every 
thing else fails, then he fails not ; the hope which 
he gives is sure. In this world of instability there 
is one stable refuge. 

" I have received a letter from Dr. Burton. He 
advises me to take the school. My love to all." 

To the same : 

"Newton Centre, Feb. 13th, 1871. 
" Poor Kate has passed away. She died on the 
fourth inst. Her death was very peaceful ; her 
Christian hope was very bright indeed — she had 
been longing for the Saviour to come and receive 
her unto himself. I was with her the week before 
her death, it being our vacation here ; and I am 
very, very glad I had the privilege. Perhaps I 
ministered to her comfort in some ways, and I am 
sure it did me good to talk with her ; and to see 



98 A Consecrated Life. 

her trust in the Saviour as she approached the 
close of this earthly life. 

" What an unspeakable comfort it is when friends 
pass away, to know, if they are his, that they have 
only gone to be with the Lord ; , that they are eter- 
nally happy in him, and to be assured that we 
shall one day see them again, no more to part from 
them. 

" I feel unusually rested, and ready, with God's 
help, to take hold of the work again. I feel an 
especial sense of God's presence with me ; he 
will help me in all that is mine to do for him. And 
I also feel like working on without so much hurry 
and bustle and anxiety as hitherto, but steadily, 
and with dependence upon God, who assigns me 
my work, I trust, and who is ever with me. 

" O, mother, isn't it something to be devoutly 
and humbly thankful for, that God has called me 
to his work. I thought of this in our class prayer- 
meeting to-night. 

" I had a letter from Prof. Olney recently, in 
which he spoke of the baptism of six of the members 
of the Sabbath-school. I would like to hear more 
about the progress of the work in the church, and 
hope I shall when you write." 

During Mr. Kelley's course at Newton he was a 
most industrious worker ; while keeping up fully with 
all his required studies, and frequently enjoying the 
privilege of preaching; he also did some teaching, 



Filling Up the Time. 99 

the proceeds of which assisted in defraying his 
expenses. His pupils were some of his fellow- 
students and other young men from the village, 
to whom he gave instruction in Greek, Latin, 
mathematics, etc. 

He had also commenced commentaries on some 
of the Epistles to the Churches, on which he worked 
as he had time, and assisted in the translation of 
a theological work from the German ;> with some 
reference to his work he thus writes to an old 
friend : 

"I have been studying here at Newton, since 
the term opened in the fall. With the regular 
class work, some of us have been doing a little 
outside work in Latin and German. In the latter, 
this extra class are trying to prepare for the press 
a translation of Schulze's ' Menschensohn und 
Logos.' I must put my work on this into next 
month, and must therefore be very busy." 

We find the following to his parents : 

"Mar. 22d. 

"How the time passes. In less than three 
months we, i. e., our class shall be through at 
Newton. What a change the few months to come 
will make with me ! This life, here at the Institu- 
tion, which has been very pleasant and full of 
privileges, is soon to end. God grant that I may 



100 A Consecrated Life. 

be of use in his cause, and that this preparation 
may all be employed for him. 

" I don't feel decided yet in regard to the School. 
I trust I shall be guided. 

" I am glad to hear about the work in the church 
at home ; and shall be glad to see the change, when 
I come. 

" I don't think, mother, your feeling, of which 
you spoke, is wrong at all ; but I believe it both 
the right and natural feeling for a Christian. I 
think we should, not only for ourselves, but also 
for those we love, covet earnestly the best gifts. I 
do hope that we may all, as a household, be single- 
hearted and united in the endeavor to do the will 
of God, relying upon his grace to sanctify, and his 
mercy, through Christ, to save us. Yes, I believe, 
as jovl say, we can all find missionary work to do ; 
and I hope we may all love to do it. It is a great 
privilege to labor for the Lord. I think I realize 
this, and do not regard it in any way as a task. 
Often, I am not so joined to Christ by faith, and 
filled with the Spirit, as to be ready to labor as I 
should be ; but God has blessed me, in permitting 
me, in some way, to work for him ; and I believe 
that he will use me. 

" May he reveal just what he would have me do; 
and may he grant us all a supreme love to him, 
and a delight in his service." 

He had the true spirit of a Christ-like mission- 



True Missionary Spirit. 101 

ary. He was not trying to find an easy position ; 
but, on the contrary, he felt as he expressed to 
his friends : 

"If there is one people that is darker than 
another, or one work that is more difficult than 
another — where others would not be so apt to go 
— that is the people, and that is the work to which 
I want to go." 

He had been told that a mission to the Shans 
was a difficult work ; that the people were rigid 
Buddhists, and not even so accessible to the gospel 
as the Burmans (after a residence among them, 
he thought the latter was not the case) : that 
many more discouragements would be found 
among them, than in the mission to the Karens. 
All this, however, made him feel the more strongly 
drawn to the Shans. 

As he thought of their wretched condition, and 
the transforming power of God's Spirit, his desire 
and purpose grew stronger, to give himself to that 
work. 

In which he announces his designation to the 
Shan Mission : 

" Newton Centre, Mar. 27th, 1871. 
"My Deau Pauexts: I have good news: I 
expect to see you next month. This morning I 
received a letter from Dr. Murdock, informing me 



102 A Consecrated Life. 

that I have been designated to the Shan Mission. 

" I believe I wrote you before about the Shan 
Mission. It is the work to which I feel especially 
drawn ; and when, in my perplexity between the 
School (Rangoon College), to which I was urged, 
and the usual missionary work, this field was sug- 
gested to me, it seemed like a providential open- 
ing. I trust that the Lord has decided what I felt 
unable to decide, and that he has chosen for me. 

" The Shan Mission is quite new. I don't know 
its history very thoroughly, but the Scriptures are 
yet untranslated. 

" Of late I have had more opportunity than 
usual for labor, with some who seem desirous of 
becoming Christians ; and I feel that the privilege 
has been blessed to me. I hope God may bless all 
such efforts, to his glory and the good of souls. 

" I need to grow in grace : need it so much in 
view of what I might, with God's blessing, be the 
means of doing, and in view of the great work 
before me. I trust that he will, by his Spirit, fit 
me more and more for it. 

" I do not forget to pray for you in things tem- 
poral and spiritual. O, that we may all be really 
living unto God — unto the Lord who died for us." 

The following is an extract from a letter to his 
dear friend and former school-mate, in Rutland, 
Rev. A. R. Graves,, an Episcopal clergyman : 



Letter to a Friend. 103 

" Newton Centre, Mar. SOth, 1871. 

M Dear Fkiend Anson : I am relieved from 
my anxiety about the place in which I am to 
labor. 

"I believe I wrote you that I was called to 
decide between a proposed school and the usual 
missionary work, and felt much perplexed. An- 
other place has been offered me, which so perfectly 
accords with my desires, and also, I think, with 
any peculiar qualifications I may have, I cannot 
but regard this as a providential opening. I felt 
unable to decide, and tried to commit it to the 
Lord ; and I trust that he has decided for me. 

" The Shans are a numerous race in Burmah, 
and also north and east from Burmah, through 
Northern Siam, to China. The work of their 
evangelization is but just begun. Indeed, I don't 
know that more than two of our missionaries have 
labored for them, exclusively ; and of these two, 
one has been obliged to come home on account of 
ill health, and the health of the other is failing. 

. . .' . It is very important that some one 
see him, and take up the work where he lays it 
down. This, they wish me to undertake. . . 

" It is a great work ; may the Lord fit me for it, 
and use me in it for his glory 

" I trust that we are both doing the same work ; 
that we are both serving the same Lord ; that we 
are both animated by the same desires, encouraged 
with the same unfailing and immortal hopes, and 



104 A Consecrated Life. 

strengthened in our weakness, by the same 
almighty strength ; and that, after this blessed 
privilege of laboring for Christ here on earth, we 
shall together, in the eternal kingdom, praise for- 
ever him who by his infinite grace has saved even 
us; the Saviour who died and gave himself for us. 
" And I trust that, while here on earth, we may, 
in the grace of God, be the means of leading others 
to trust in the same adorable Saviour. These, my 
dear Anson, are my sincere feelings. I trust that, 
though we do not agree on all points, we shall 
always cherish a warm affection for each other, and 
feel an interest and sympathy in each other's 
work. . • . . I am your old friend, 

" Edwin D. Kelley." 



CHAPTER VI. 

MR. KELLEY graduated from the Newton 
Theological Institution, June 14th, 1871. 
At the Baptist church, where " class-day" exercises 
were held, it was a day of special interest in con- 
nection with foreign missions, as three of that 
graduating class of seven were under appointment 
as missionaries to the heathen ; Rev. S. T. Goodell 
and Rev. H. Hopkinson were of this number. 

While their class-mates were intending to find 
their fields of labor in a Christian land, with its 
numerous privileges and blessings, they were 
expecting to renounce them all, and not grudg- 
ingly, but gladly ; for, in the words of the Rev. 
Dr. Smith, the poet of the day, they could thus 
express their hope : 

105 



106 A Consecrated Life. 

" We are going where the idol gods 
Have held their cruel sway ; 
To bring the heathen hope and life, 
To make their darkness day." 

The subject of Mr. Kelley's address on this 
occasion was, " Revelation a Unit ; " in which he 
showed that the "grand theme of all revelation 
was redemption through a Messiah. The Old and 
New Testaments taught the same ideas ; and he 
traced the development through the various gen- 
erations since the fall of Adam. The history 'of 
redemption was the grandest history ever enacted 
on earth." * 

He was united in marriage to Miss Jennie V. 
Blackadar, by Rev. D. M. Reeves, in Boston, June 
15th, 1871, and the same day left for New York 
city, where he preached on the following Sabbath. 
On Monday they again resumed their journey 
toward Ann Arbor, Mich., where Mr. Kelley spent 
a few weeks with his parents and friends ; and had 
the pleasure of being present at Commencement 
at the University, — thus having an opportunity 
of seeing and conversing, for the last time, with 
many of his former class-mates and associates in 
college. 

He enjoyed especially the reunion with his dear 
church, to whom he preached several times. 
Here he was ordained to the work of the Gospel 

* Watchman and Reflector. 



Ordination. 107 

ministry, and as a missionary of the cross to the 
heathen. The occasion was one of deep interest 
to this church ; of which he was a much-loved 
inember. The exercises were of a solemn and 
deeply impressive nature ; at the close of which 
was sung the appropriate hymn : 



" Yes, my native land, I love thee ; 

All thy scenes, I love them well ; 

Friends, connections, happy country, 

Can I bid you all farewell ? 

Can I leave you, 

Far in heathen lands to dwell ? " 



A few days later he bade farewell to his dear 
parents, an only brother, and many loved friends. 

From Ann Arbor they proceeded to Rutland, and 
Clarendon, Vermont, his former home ; where he 
greeted again his relatives and friends, and had the 
pleasure of preaching Christ, at the old church in 
Rutland, that he had formerly attended. 

After a brief visit in Vermont, they returned to 
Boston ; and there the remainder of the time was 
spent in preparation for Burmah ; while Mr. Kelley 
also enjoyed the privilege of preaching the Gospel 
from different pulpits. 

They made a brief visit in Providence, with 
Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Bixby, who were the first mis- 
sionaries sent to the Shans; though their work 
was not confined to that people, for they also 



108 A Consecrated Life. 

labored earnestly among the Burmans and Karens, 
until the failure of Mr. Bixby's health obliged him 
to leave the field. From them, Mr. and Mrs. 
Kelley received information in regard to the coun- 
try and people for whom they expected to labor. 
The following extract is from a letter to Mr. 
Kelley's parents : 

" Boston, Oct. 9th, 1871. 

" The box has come in good order, and was here 
in time enough so that we sent it by the ship. So 
our goods are on the way to Burmah. 

" Yesterday I preached in Bowdoin Square church. 
There is, I think, some religious interest among 
the young people of the congregation here. J — 's 
class, in particular, seem all interested. I do feel 
deeply interested for this class, and also for others 
of the young people. It is good to know that 
they are all in the hands of the Lord, and he can 
bring them to himself. My best love to you all." 

In the Bowdoin Square church, on the evening 
of Oct. 18th, 1871, Mr. Kelley and Mr. Hopkinson 
and their wives, were designated to their respec- 
tive missions. The services were conducted by 
the estimable Foreign Secretary, Rev. Dr. Warren. 
Rev. Dr. Hovey, of Newton, Rev. Mr. Reeves, and 
others of the Boston pastors, took part in the 
services. Rev. D. L. Brayton, of the Pwo Karen 
Mission, Rangoon, Burmah, was also present. 



Designation Services. 109 

Having had thirty years' experience in mission 
life, lie was enabled to speak heartily of the work 
to his young brethren. He expressed his idea of 
a true missionary, as one who was Christ-like. 

After a fervent prayer of designation, by the 
Rev. Dr. Neale, the new missionaries spoke of their 
feelings on leaving home and friends, and of their 
prospective work. Mr. Kelley gave expression to 
earnest words of consecration to Christ, and also 
spoke of the privilege and joy of engaging in work 
for the advancement of his kingdom. Among 
his closing words were : " When we fall, send 
others to take our places" 

The presence of the Master was felt in the 
hearts of many ; and some were led to consecrate 
themselves more entirely to him, from that even- 
ing. 

On the following day they bade farewell to the 
mother and sister of Mrs. Kelley, and also many 
dear friends. God's grace was implored and 
received ; and the Lord enabled them calmly and 
cheerfully to go at his bidding. 

The night before their embarkation, Mr. Kelley 
thus writes to his parents : 

" New York, Oct. 20th, 1871. 
" Dear Parents : I have so much to write, 
and so little time. It is past eleven P. M. Yester- 
day we were very busy, filling engagements, etc. 
Among others, received vaccination. Last evening 



110 A Consecrated Life. 

we came on from Boston, and are now stopping at 
sister Anna's. 

This evening we attended the designation ser- 
vices of Bro. Keith, our fellow-passenger, who, 
with his wife and Mrs. Danforth, is bound for 
Assam. 

" We learn that the steamer " Caledonia," Anchor 
Line, for Glasgow, on which our passage was 
engaged, has not arrived. We are probably to be 
transferred to the " City of Brussels," Inman Line, 
for Liverpool, and to sail to-morrow noon. I had 
intended to write a long letter ; but the meeting 
to-night kept very late. 

" May God bless you all. I cannot say farewell ; 
we shall still be near each other in thought, and I 
trust shall often hear from each other. For the 
present, good bye. Your loving son, - 

" Edwin D. Keller." 

The following words of farewell were written 
by the revered and loved Foreign Secretary, Rev. 
Dr. Warren, which he intended they should read 
" out at sea." The sentiment it contains in regard 
to missions has its appropriate place here : 

"Boston, Oct. 18th, 1871. 

" Dear Brother and Sister Kelley : One 
word of farewell and good cheer, on your set out 
on your long and wearisome journey. 

" May c the God of Missions ' attend you — take 



Letter from Rev. Dr. Warren. Ill 

care of 3^011 — go before you — provide for you at 
every step. That phrase, ' God of Missions,' has 
a wondrous depth and compass of meaning, which 
will be constantly opening itself to you, as day 
succeeds to day, and experience crowds upon 
experience. For years past, it has been revealing 
new wonders to me ; and still they come, more 
numerous and more rich as time passes. He orig- 
inates missions, provides for missions, loves mis- 
sions, carries them on his heart, brings out all the 
best resources of his universe in their behalf. For 
all distant, dark people, his heart yearns ; and he 
has a peculiar love for those who, in this, sympa- 
thize with him. 

" Get you up into his embrace, and abide there ; 
and you shall never want any good thing. Go in 
peace. Most affectionately, 

" J. G. Wabren, Cor. Sec" 

The morning of the 21st of Oct., 1871, has 
arrived ; and the party of seven missionaries have 
taken leave of relatives and friends, and have 
commenced their journey thence, to the land of 
the heathen. 

" From the deck of the ' City of Brussels,' 
they have seen, receding and vanishing in the dis- 
tance, the shores of their favored and much-loved 
country. Now they turn to one another for 
comfort, and to the God of all grace for his pres- 
ence. Ere the journey was commenced, the peti- 



112 A Consecrated Life. 

tion arose, " If thy presence go not with us, carry 
us not up hence." 

For an account of the voyage we will turn to 
Mr. Kelley's journal. 

" Sunday, 22d. — A magnificent ocean view, 
ever the same, and yet ever changing is all about 
us. It would seem that one would never tire of 
watching the seething, hurrying billows, or the 
changing tints of the breaking waves. 4 The sea 
is His, and he made it.' O, the majesty, the infi- 
nite majesty of God, and the wondrous grace, that 
we approach so near this great God through our 
Lord Jesus Christ. Friends at home are praying 
for us to-day, and God seems to be answering 
their prayers speedily ; we have beautiful weather 
and favoring winds, and are rapidly advancing on 
our journey." 

" Wednesday, 25th. — Both sick, though I occa- 
sionally visit the deck. Wind south in the morn- 
ing, then south-west, then north-west, and most 
of the day north ; strong and fearfully cold. A 
heavy sea ; vessel rolling and pitching. A pleas- 
ant day for some at home, but not very propitious 
for us." 

" Thursday, 2Qth. — Strong north wind nearly all 
day, and cold. Health record the same. I go on 
deck however, witnessing there a squall of snow 
and rain, and beholding the rainbow — my Father's 
bow of promise, spanning the stormy billows." 



Storm at Sea. 113 

" Sunday, 2§th. — A day long to be remembered. 
Any description will, I fear, be all too weak. 
About 1.30 this morning, the officers told us we 
were struck by a fearful gale. They were expect- 
ing it ; and the vessel was at once turned north- 
east to face it, and all day long we were battling 
with the storm. 

" During the night I felt the vessel pitching and 
lurching heavily, and knew that she must be labor- 
ing in a heavy sea ; yet tried to sleep on. But 
long before light I was thoroughly roused, and all 
thought of sleep banished. The vessel gave a 
heavy roll that made me spring for the brass rod 
above, to avoid being thrown from my berth ; I 
heard the waves pour in with a crash over the side 
of the vessel. They seemed to hold her down 
while she sucked in the water, but gradually she 
lifted again. Meantime, the water poured down 
the stairways, and covered the floor of the passage- 
ways and state-rooms below. Through every un- 
fastened window, too, it came, and perhaps through 
the floor also. The floor of our room was very 
wet, but we were dry in our berths ; and so we lay, 
or held ourselves in, as the ship rolled from side to 
side. We would rise high in the air, and then 
could hear the quick rattle of the screw as the stern 
plunged down again into the waves. The ' Star 
of Bethlehem,' kept passing through my mind; 
and it was sweet to know that we were in the 
hands of God, and safe with him, whether life or 



114 A Consecrated Life. 

death were our lot. About eight o'clock, a heavy 
sea over the upper deck broke through the sky- 
lights of the dining saloon, and into that the wa- 
ter poured. In a moment it was pouring through 
the floor upon us in torrents ; I sprang up — we were 
both alike drenched. Everything in the berth was 
saturated. I hastily put on my wet clothes and 
drew on my soaked boots with some difficulty, 
however, in the pitching room, and started out to see 
what could be done for Mrs. Kelley. Bro. Hopkin- 
son's room, being an outside one, was not under 
the dining room, and was protected from the deck 
above by a water-proof floor; in his room there was an 
extra berth, which was only wet a little, not soaked ; 
to this she moved. I went to the dining saloon 
above, and spent most of the day aching with cold 
upon the wet cushions there, occasionally going 
below to see if anything could be done for the sick 
ones ; always paying for the latter endeavor, how- 
ever, by a sick turn myself. And so the day 
passed by, the vessel plunging and rolling, stag- 
gering under the heavy blows that she received, now 
covered by the waves, and then rising again, throw- 
ing off the waters, and gallantly riding the billows. 
The roaring sea, and the whistling, howling wind, 
seemed awful, indeed. The maddened billows were 
rushing furiously past and against and over us, 
their surfaces all broken up into little ripples of 
foam ; and the drifting spray so filled the air that 
one could see but a few rods. So we endured the 



Storm at Sea. 115 

day, hoping that the ship would outride the storm, 
yet sure, that if anything of importance should 
give way under any of the constantly recurring 
shocks, we should almost at once go down. About 
5.30 P. M. one of the ship's officers came into the 
cabin and declared that the gale was over. With 
lighter hearts we went below, yet there seemed no 
diminution either in the raging of the waves or the 
violence of the wind. I found for myself, also, a 
berth in Mr. Hopkinson's room. 

"The plunging of the ship continued almost with- 
out abatement until 11 P. M., when suddenly we 
seemed to come into smooth water, and the machin- 
ery ceased to move. 'Then they be glad because 
they be quiet/ I think expressed the feelings of us 
all. The ship slowly rose and fell with the heavy 
swell. God has preserved us ! " 

Mr. Kelley omitted to note in his journal, (but 
spoke of it in his home letters), that on Sunday 
morning, about the time tlie sea broke through the 
sky-lights and poured down upon them, one of 
their noble officers was washed away. Life-boats, 
etc., were lowered, but all became engulfed. Thus 
suddenly one of their number was called into the 
eternal world. 

Here it may be well to add a word of explana- 
tion in regard to the unavoidable wet clothes. 
Suitable changes were provided for the journey, 
but, as Mr. Kelley stated, everything in the state- 



116 A Consecrated Life. 

room became drenched. A trunk was placed in 
the passage-way also, for use ; but when the sea 
broke in, this (after the contents became very 
damp) was placed elsewhere. Their other trunks 
from which Mr. Kelley might have obtained dry 
clothing for himself, were in the hold of the ship, 
and to these he could not have access before reach- 
ing Liverpool. The other members of the mis- 
sion party, whose state-rooms were situated differ- 
ently, escaped this trouble. 

(Journal.) "Monday, 80th. — I lay awake all 
last night ; partly to avoid rolling out of my berth, 
and partly because in my wet clothes, and with 
cold feet, I could not sleep. It was necessary to 
clear away all trunks from the passage-way yester- 
day morning; and so not until sometime to-day, 
could I get dry clothing for Mrs. Kelley. An 
attempt was made to-day to dry the wet bedding, 
and our state-room was again prepared for occu- 
pancy. The bedding is still so very damp that it 
seems dangerous to lie in it, but it is the best we 
can do. 

" After lying still two or three hours last night, 
the ship again started forward ; and we have been 
making for Queenstown all day. It has been a 
very rough day ; the ship has rolled and pitched 
greatly, but, of course, it is as nothing compared 
with the gale of yesterday. Mrs. Kelley has been 
suffering all dnj ; the wet bedding and clothes ag- 
gravating her sufferings from sea-sickness. 



Arrival in England. 117 

"I, too, have suffered from sea-sickness, cold 
and faintness ; having soaked feet, and other cloth- 
ing somewhat wet." 

" Tuesday, 31s£. — About one o'clock this morn- 
ing we reached Queenstown." 

" Wednesday, Nov. 1st. — We came into the 
harbor of Liverpool this morning, and go ashore 
about nine o'clock. The ordeal of passing the 
custom-house proves not a very trying one ; and 
ere long we are in a cab, driving to the residence 

of Mrs. ~, a relative and friend of Mrs. Kelley's. 

And there, before a blazing, open-grate fire, we 
warm ourselves, and are thankful. To-night, for 
the first time since Sunday morning last, I have 
dry feet and clothing. 

" My dear wife is much troubled by something 
like rheumatic pains in the side, back and limbs. 
She walks with difficulty. This morning the rest 
of our party went on to London." 

" Thursday, 2d. — Received a telegram from 
Bro. Hopkinson, to the effect that our steamer is 
to sail Saturday. We therefore conclude to go to 
London to-morrow, poorly as Mrs. Kelley is, and 
if possible, sail with the rest." 

" Friday Sd. — Left Liverpool on the 9 : 15 A. M. 
train for London, arriving about 2.30 P. M. Met the 
rest of our party at Mr. Burr's, our stopping place. 
Mrs. Kelley very lame." 

" Sat., 4:th. — Mrs. Kelley worse this morning ; 
too ill to rise from her bed, and almost unable to 



118 A Consecrated Life. 

move. The physician pronounces her evidently 
unfit, at present, to proceed to sea. Our party 
are all decided in the opinion that we ought to 
remain. And so, after much hesitation, and no 
little regret at being detained from our work, we 
bid adieu to the others, and remain in London. I 
secured a transfer of ourselves from the S. S. 
4 Scindia,' to the S. S. ' Niger,' expected to sail the 
14th inst. 

" We must try to make the best of our stay 
here. It is ordered by a wise, kind Father. May 
his will be done." 

" Our times are in thy hands." 

The following is an extract from a letter written 
to the Missionary Union, from Liverpool, when 
he thought it would be necessary to remain until 
the next steamer : 

" Have I made it plain that Mrs. Kelley's pres- 
ent condition is owing to the fearful gale of Sunday 
last? But for that, and our drenched state ever 
since, I think there would have been no delay. 

" I hope that, in God's own time, we shall arrive 
in Toungoo, and that he will use us wherever he 
puts us. Yours truly, 

" E. D. Kelley." 

In his journal he writes thus : 



Spurgeon. 119 

" Sunday, 5th. — This morning I walked over to 
the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and had the privilege 
of hearing Mr. Spurgeon. The subject of his ser- 
mon was, 'Household piety.' A plain, earnest 
sermon. I noticed in Spurgeon especially the 
following good things. 1 : A perfect simplicity. 
2 : A reverence for the Word of Gocl, and a disre- 
gard for the speculations and ; original views ' of 
men. 3 : A belief in the sovereign power and 
the sovereign grace of God. His trust is stayed 
on the immovable rock, and not on the shifting 
sand of the human will. 

" He spoke once, I think, of the ' lightning pow- 
er ' of the Spirit ; and said that God could, if he so 
willed, convert every one in the Tabernacle that 
very morning. 

" In the evening I attended Dr. Brock's church." 

"Monday, 6th. — Mrs. Kelley still apparently 
without diminution of suffering. By the physi- 
cian's orders, she keeps her bed ; and, indeed, she 
is too full of pain to attempt to sit up." 

" Tuesday, 7th. — A London fog. The descrip- 
tions which have been given of it are merited. I 
can see only indistinctly the trees two or three 
rods from the window ; and cannot see at all the 
houses on the opposite side of the square, perhaps 
five to ten rods from here. 

" It is mid-day, and I am writing by gas-light. 

" My dear wife is still suffering. Perhaps the 
Lord is now trying us ; and, by the trial, the 



120 A Consecrated Life. 

better preparing us for his work. He is our 
Father ; let him send what seemeth him good. 

" I, too, am under the doctor's treatment for my 
cough." 

A natural result, after such exposure to wet and 
cold. 

(Journal.) " Thursday, 9th. — Went out to-day, 
passing the ' Lord Mayor's show,' with the immense 
crowd that accompanied it ; and selected berths in 
the ' Niger.' Agent informs me that she will sail 
about the 20th." 

" Sunday, 12th. — This morning I went to Surrey 
Chapel, and heard a good, earnest, Gospel sermon, 
by Newman Hall, from Hebrews ii: 9. In the 
afternoon I heard Dean Stanley preach in West- 
minster Abbey, from the text, ' Render to Caesar 
the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things 
that are God's.' It was an elegant sermon, in 
point of style, but I think he misinterpreted the 
text." 

" Tuesday, lith. — To-day Mrs. Kelley is better ; 
has been sitting up several hours." 

" Wednesday, 15th. — How we would like, both 
of us, to be at work ; at least learning the lan- 
guage, and preparing to do something towards 
answering the cries from the destitute fields. But 
we are in the Lord's hands, and his way is hest." 

" Thursday, 16M. — Visited this morning West- 
minster Abbey — that mausoleum of so much of 
the glory and greatness of this world. How van- 



Westminster Abbey. 121 

ishing is worldly honor ! ' Dust thou art, and unto 
dust shalt thou return,' silently these solemn 
aisles declare. 

" Here kings and the great ones of earth have 
been laid away — pomp and power theirs no more. 

" Poets have sung of the solemn stillness of this 
place, and in this place they themselves lie, with 
those they have commemorated. Warrior and 
statesman, philosopher anc { poet have passed away, 
their part in the drama of life finished ! 

" How empty is all the glory of many commem- 
orated here, though noted for great achievements, 
and receiving the applause of men. How truly 
worthy, on the other hand, now appear the lives 
of those, who, with some good done, united a spirit 
of unselfish devotion to Christ, and who, living 
for him, have died in the sure hope of a glorious 
resurrection through him. 

" How sweet and blessed is the memory of such. 
4 Look upon the glory of this world in the light of 
eternal things,' is the solemn lesson of this place. 
Live the true life of consecration to Christ, seek 
the enduring good which they have who trust 
in Christ." 

" Friday, VJth. — Mrs. Kelley is better to-day, 
so much so that she goes down to dinner. It is 
therefore a joyful clay to us." 

" Wednesday, 22d. — Make preparations for again 
starting, as we go to-morrow morning. I hope that, 
in God's own good time — and soon, if it be his 



122 A Consecrated Life. 

will, we may be beginning our work among the 
heathen." 

" Thursday, 23c?. — After a cab ride of perhaps 
eight miles we go on board the Steam Ship 'Niger.' 
The fog, however, is so dense that the pilot con- 
siders it unsafe to go down the Thames, so we 
stay here till to-morrow. 

" Mrs. Keliey is better than heretofore." 

"Friday, 24:th. — This morning we start down 
the river. Our company of passengers appear very 
pleasant. May the Lord be with us on this voy- 
age ; yea, be with us by his grace for the good of 
our souls." 

" Saturday, 25th. — This morning we reach the 
Channel ; and as I go on deck the famous white 
cliffs meet my eyes. It is not rough, but there are 
plenty of short waves, which are found very con- 
ducive to sea-sickness." 

" Sunday, 26th. — This morning we enter the 
Bay of Biscay." 

" Tuesday, 28th. — Had a rough night last night. 
We leave the Bay of Biscay this morning without 
regret. The longer swell of the Atlantic is far 
more endurable. The short, quick waves pitched 
us about in all imaginable and unexpected direc- 
tions ; leaving us very unpleasant reminiscences of 
the Bay of Biscay." 

" Wednesday, 29th. — Pass Cape St. Roque — very 
plainly in sight." 

Friday, Dec. 1st. — This morning we are steer- 



Gibraltar. 128 

ing a south-east course, having passed Cape St. 
Vincent. To-night we enter the Straits of Gibral- 
tar. As we approach the eastern extremity of the 
Strait the view is magnificent. Perhaps sixty or 
more vessels are lying to, mostly under the Afri- 
can shore, waiting for daylight or a change of 
wind, before attempting the passage of the Strait. 
" On the African side the mountains rise abruptly; 
on the other side we can see the shore line, the 
Gibraltar Light, and the lights of the vessels in the 
Bay ; and now and then, dimly through the dark- 
ness, the Rock of Gibraltar. The moon and one 
bright planet are visible through the clouds, half 
lighting the scene." 



CHAPTER VIL 

DURING this voyage Mr. Kelley conducts 
religious services on the Sabbath, and holds 
a prayer-meeting each Wednesday evening with 
the sailors; and by private conversation with the 
passengers and crew, endeavors to press home the 
claims of Christ, and the necessity of a personal 
interest in him. 

(Journal.) " Sunday, Dec. 3c/. — On account 
of the weather, religious services are held in the 
saloon below, instead of on the deck. I try to 
preach from the words ' Repent ye,' in Mark i : 15. 
May God bless the words spoken in weakness. 
We are sailing along the coast of Algiers, and the 
mountains are in sight nearty all the afternoon. 

" In the evening I observe, for the first time, a 
phenomenon of which I had before read with inter- 
124 



The Beauties of the Deep. 125 

est— the phosphorescence of the water in the wake, 
off the bow, and along the sides of the vessel. 

"It was wondrously beautiful." 

Dee. -ith. — To-night the phosphorescent display 
is much the same. I went to the stern of the ves- 
sel, and, looking down, was surprised to find it all 
lighted up, and a long wake of glowing water be- 
hind. 

"A beautiful silver-white light was emitted, 
very bright just back of the vessel, and gradually 
growing less brilliant farther away. The display 
off the bow of the vessel was even more beauti- 
ful. The waves were dashed off in showers of 
glistening white, which were changed to purple as 
they mingled with the dark waters below, and 
scattered through the purple were myriads of daz- 
zling, sparkling gems, more brilliant and beautiful 
than diamonds. And all was constantly in motion, 
constantly changing, wave succeeding to wave, 
and shower to shower ; a scene full of dancing, 
sparkling life and beauty. 

" Along the sides of the vessel, from stem to 
stern, was a line — perhaps two feet wide — of 
rippling water, that emitted a beautiful soft white 
light ; and anything dropped into the water was 
answered by a shower of diamonds." 

" Wednesday, 6th. — Another day, of which no 
description can convey an adequate idea unless 
one has experienced the reality. A fearful gale 
was blowing all last night. The ship was soon 



126 A Consecrated Life. 

obliged to discontinue her course, and lie to, with 
merely a rag of sail spread to steady her. Many 
of the passengers remained up all night. I lay 
down, but without undressing. The vessel was 
pitching and rolling fearfully, and the seas wash- 
ing over her. Crash followed crash ; crockery 
and glass-ware smashing, however secured ; and 
the waves again and again breaking through the 
sky-light, and pouring down into the cabin. In 
the midst of the darkness and the wild raging of 
the elements, came the awful cry — ' Man over- 
board ! ' Fortunately, it proved a false alarm ; 
doubtless caused by the cries of the fowls in the 
fowl house, or the howl of the captain's dog, as 
they were washed into the sea. 

" The night wore away and morning came. 
The sight presented from the deck (on which one 
could not venture with safety) was magnificent 
and awful. The captain declared it to be the 
worst storm he had experienced in the Mediterra- 
nean. And still there was no subsidence. On 
the contrary, the storm increased. During the 
day the scene was such as I never beheld before. 
The wind was roaring by, and the mighty foam- 
covered billows rose and fell with an awful maj- 
esty. The scene passes my feeble powers of de- 
scription, but vividly will memory recall that 
awful picture. And so the day passed on, and yet 
no change. 

" The passengers are gathered in little groups, 



Storm on the Mediterranean. 127 

wonderfully silent now and solemn. Now and 
then the captain comes down with cheerful voice 
— ' She is all right, we'll conquer yet ' are his 
words. Night .closes down on us; and still the 
storm is raging. Mrs. Kelley has been sick, but, 
considering the fearful day, and the fact that the 
galley was so washed out that rarely could warm 
food be procured, she is better than I could have 
hoped." 

" Thursday, Dec. 7th. — Storm still raging. Last 
night again I lay down without undressing — try- 
ing not to sleep, for then, I should doubtless share 
the fate of a fellow-passenger — be hurled from 
my berth. 

" Towards morning the vessel gives one more of 
those heavy lurches, and a heavy sea again washes 
over her. A moment after I hear the captain on 
deck giving the order to stop the ship. She stops ; 
and I can tell by the motion when she moves that 
she is not moving forward as before. Ah, too well 
I know what that must mean. The night passes 
away more and more quietly, but in the morning 
I find that my suspicions were too true ; a poor 
sailor, without a moment's warning, has gone to 
his account. 

" He was swept over, and, though a life-buoy 
was thrown him, he failed to grasp it. The last 
boat on the port side was lowered, but unsuccess- 
fully ; it, too, was lost. The steamer steamed 
round and round the place for about three quarters 



128 A Consecrated Life. 

of an hour ; but, though the buoy was found, noth- 
ing was seen of the poor man. 

" Morning comes, a morning of safety. The 
wind has gone down, and the sea wonderfully sub- 
sided. 

" The day is spent mostly in repairing and dry- 
ing things, and bringing some degree of order out 
of disorder. 

" A subscription is circulated for the family of 
the lost man, and the crew, especially, responding 
to it nobly, all are glad to give. At four P. M., 
at the request of some of the passengers, and I 
think with the approval of all, all hands are gath- 
ered on deck, and thanks are returned to God for 
his merciful preservation of us, with prayer for 
his blessing upon the widow and orphan, I 
conducting the service. God himself has been 
preaching, and all hearts are subdued into solemn 
reverence." 

Some, avIio appeared interested in anything but 
religion during fair weather, when the storm raged 
began to fear that all was not well with them ; 
one asked if Mr. Kelley would praj^ for them. 

It seemed evident that God had a work for him 
to do on board the " Niger." He thought he knew 
now why they had been detained by the way and 
led to this ship. Had he gone with his missionary 
brethren, his ministry would not have seemed as 
necessary, for among their company was another 
missionary, from the London Missionary Society : 



Malta. 129 

" He leadeth me ! Oh ! blessed thought, 
Oh ! words with heavenly comfort fraught ; 
Whate'er I do, where'er I be, 
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me." 

(Journal.) "Friday, Dec. 8th. — To-day we 
pass the island of Pantellaria. Mrs. Kelley's sea- 
sickness is gone. I try to make some preparation 
for a sermon for next Lord's day." 

" Saturday, Dec. 9th. — We arise this morning 
to find ourselves sailing along the yellow shores of 
Malta. 

"It is a picturesque sight as we enter the 
harbor ; the old, sea-worn, yellow limestone rocks, 
crowned with British fortifications, and with the 
yellow old town. 

" As we come to anchor we are surrounded 
by crowds of boats, the occupants of which are 
striving to sell their fruit, or lace and trinkets, or 
are contending with one another, for the privilege 
of taking passengers ashore. We go on shore; 
and I take the opportunity to roam over the 
famous old town, enjoying the odd customs and 
odd sights, and visiting the famous church of San 
Juan (built by the Knights of Malta, with lavish 
expenditure, and containing the tombs of many of 
the order), and also visit the heights which over- 
look the sea, the harbor, and part of the town, and 
offer a magnificent view.' 5 

" Sunday, Dec. 10th. — The steamer is still 
detained. In the morning I go to the Scotch 



130 A Consecrated Life. 

church, and hear a good Gospel sermon. About 
6, P. M., we go on board ; but the wind is so high 
that the captain deems it prudent to remain within. 
However, after a few hours, we again proceed on 
our journey." 

" Saturday, IQth. — This morning we awoke to 
find ourselves entering the harbor of Port Said, 
Egypt. The place does not appear very inviting, 
as we see it from the ship — little more than a 
collection of huts on the sand. Some parts of the 
town, however, are better. The light-house is the 
finest structure. Beyond the break-water we see 
the dashing waves of the Mediterranean ; but we 
lie in quiet for an hour or so, and then steam along 
the canal (Suez) for the remainder of the day. 
On the right, for a long distance, we have a shallow 
lake, in which there are great numbers of water- 
fowl ; pelicans, ducks, etc. On the left, and after- 
wards on both sides, is the low sand, and what 
seems to be lakes, but proves to be mirage. There 
is little change in the scene as we proceed — dry, 
yellow sand, with one species of bush sparsely 
scattered ; and, towards night, a range of sand-hills 
in the distance. 

u At night we draw to the shore, and stop." 

"Sunday, 17th. — Early this morning we pass 
Ishmeeli, having resumed our journey at daylight. 

" In the forenoon I conduct religious service, 
preaching from Matthew, xxiv : 44. 4 Be ye also 
ready ; for in such an hour as ye think not, the 



Suez Canal. 131 

Son of Man cometh.' May the Lord bless those 
weak words of mine ; or rather, his own truth, 
which I so mar in presenting. 

" During the day we pass through the Bitter 
Lakes — a strong head wind blowing — and on 
through the canal. The banks are often so high 
that we can see nothing beyond. When we can 
see farther, it is the same prospect of yellow sand, 
but with a range of mountains, or hills, in the 
direction of Suez, adding a little picturesqueness 
to the scene. 

" The wind blows so hard that the pilot's eyes 
are filled with sand ; and about 3 : 30, P. M., we 
stop for the night. 

" I see and feel the great need of Christian labor 
here (i. e., on board this ship), and of God's bless- 
ing upon it. O, for his Spirit, to show these souls 
their true state, and to arouse them to the impor- 
tance of laying hold on Christ ! 

" I realize, as never before, in what a false posi- 
tion a church which receives members without 
evidence of a change of heart, places the unregen- 
erate whom it thus receives. It is very, very sad 
that so dangerous and far-reaching a corruption 
has ever entered the Christian Church.* O, that 
I might speak the truth boldly, clearly, as I ought 
to proclaim it!" 



* Having reference to the majority on board ship, who were members of the 
Episcopal church, and, therefore, considered themselves Christians ; yet whose 
daily lives proved that they were at enmity with God. 



132 A Consecrated Life. 

" Monday, 18th. — This forenoon we emerge 
from the canal, and anchor in the harbor of Suez. 

" By staying on deck till late at night, I see by 
moonlight something of the coast Zafarana ; the 
place assigned by tradition to the crossing of the 
Red Sea by the Israelites, and the destruction of 
Pharaoh with his hosts. The mountains rise on 
the north and south ; and, between, I can see 
nothing beyond the waters ; the coast line there 
is evidently low. There, if the tradition respecting 
that place be correct, Pharaoh supposed that the 
Israelites were c entangled in the land.' But I 
am not sure but another tradition fixes the place 
just below Suez. Of the two, I think Zafarana 
the more likely place ; but these traditions are 
unreliable, and possibly neither correct. I regret 
that w~e are passing this part of the coast by 
night." 

" Tuesday, Vdth. — This morning we sail along 
with the Egyptian rocky coast on our right, and 
the rocky Sinaitic peninsula on our left. The 
rocks are tawny, or purple — mostly of the former 
color — and their sandy hue gives to the scene an 
aspect unlike anything we see at home. 

" I read to Mrs. Kelley this morning (on deck 
and in sight of both coasts) the narrative of the 
departure of the children of Israel from Egypt. 

" These are the swelling waves that, by the 
power of God, were forced back, till his people had 
passed, and then overwhelmed the enemy. Here 



Sinai, Horeb. 133 

was wrought that great deliverance commemorated 
in the sublime song : ' Sing unto the Lord, for he 
hath triumphed gloriously ; the horse and his rider 
hath he thrown into the sea.' Behind these moun- 
tains, on the left, the Israelites journeyed along 
after their deliverance, through the wilderness of 
Sin, toward Sinai; and there, a little farther in the 
interior, or, it may be, one among the higher and 
more distant peaks which we see, is Mount Horeb 
itself; where the mighty God himself came down 
in smoke and flame and with the voice of thunder. 
I thank the . Lord that I am permitted to pass 
through these scenes. 

" Toward night we are passing out of the Gulf 
of Suez, into the broader part of the Red Sea. It 
is a lovely night ; the moonlight through the hazy 
clouds, the balmy temperature, and the quiet sea, 
make the evening on deck delightful." 

" Wednesday, 20th. — The threatened heat of the 
Red Sea begins. A warm, but peaceful day, fol- 
lowed by a delightful, calm moonlight night. 

" It is the evening of our prayer-meeting in the 
forecastle. I read a portion of the third chap- 
ter of John; and I do enjoy, exceedingly, the 
privilege of talking of ' Jesus and his love,' though 
I am led to cry out with strong cries unto God, 
that he, whose power alone can change the heart, 
will beget these poor souls anew by his Holy 
Spirit. 

" They are not uninterested, and seem to take 



134 A Consecrated Life. 

kindly my coming among them ; but O, for God's 
power upon their hearts ! I pray and hope for the 
conversion of some, ere our voyage is over. 

" There is music and dancing aft among the 
passengers, while our prayer-meeting is held for- 
ward." 

These sounds of revelry blended not with the 
voice of prayer and praise, which simultaneously 
rose on the evening air ; nevertheless the Lord 
heard, and commanded his blessing on those who 
sought it. 

One of Mr. Kelley's favorite stanzas during 
the voyage was the following : 

" Onward, bark! the cape I'm rounding; 
See the blessed wave their hands ; 
Hear the harps of God resounding 
From the bright immortal bands. 
Rocks and storms I'll fear no more, 
When on that eternal shore ; 
Drop the anchor ! Furl the sail ! 
I am safe within the vail ! " 

Alas ! how soon were the words of that hymn 
to be realized ! 

(Journal.) "Thursday, 21st. — Two months 
since we left New York. How long it seems! 
Almost like years instead of months. It is a hot 
day ; even under our awnings on deck we feel the 
enervating heat. The first mate receives a sun- 
stroke." 



Red Sea. 135 

"Friday, 22d. — Another hot day. Spend the 
day preparing a sermon for next Sunday. Sleep 
on deck, and find the change a wise one." 

Among the passengers were some English offi- 
cers, who were returning to their regiments in 

In:lia. Col. D , of this number, was a most 

agreeable travelling companion. Some were 
planters, who were returning to their tea (?) and 
coffee gardens in Ceylon ; while others were going 
to seek their fortunes in India. Mr. Kelley and 
liis wife received from these, as well as from the 
officers and crew, uniform kindness and respect ; 
but Mr. Kelley longed that they might receive 
Christ into their hearts, and own him as their 
Master ; and for this he labored while journeying 
among them. 

Some of them frequently expressed their sur- 
prise that anyone should be willing to go to Bur- 
mah or India simply to benefit the natives. One 
of the planters (a son of an Episcopal minister) 
declared to Mr. Kelley that " it would be utterly 
useless to attempt to convert those miserable 
heathen — it could not be done." 

In reply, Mr. Kelley assured him of his belief in 
God's converting power; and of his expectation 
that Christ was going to redeem many from among 

the Shans ; and smilingly added : " Mr. , 

a few years from this time, come to Burmah, and I 
will show you Shan Christian converts." 



136 A Consecrated Life. 

To which he replied: "Well, Mr. Kelley, if 
anyone can convert them, you can." 

(Journal.) " Sunday, 24:th. — Religious services 
were held this morning on deck. I tried to preach 
from that good old text, oftener than any other 
the theme of my discourses, ' Believe on the Lcrcl 
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' I hope 
the Lord gave me the message ; and yet, though 
it is the needed message, how they to whom it 
comes refuse to receive it ! We pray that the 
Lord will pour out his Spirit upon passengers and 
crew. Is it, is it too much to ask ? If the Spirit 
be indeed poured out, what a mighty work will be 
done ; without it, nothing. And yet, even when 
we see no fruit of our labor, O, what a glorious 
privilege it is to ' serve the Lord in the Gospel of 
his Son ! ' The Lord permits — nay, lays upon 
me, the honor and the joy of preaching Christ. Is 
it not enough, though /see not the fruit? 

" And is this the work in which he calls me to 
spend my life ? Thanks be to him for it. Nay, 
more ; besides this honor and joy, he gives the 
holy, unspeakable delight of communion with him, 
refreshing from his presence ; and I trust, too, will 
even use me for his glory in the conversion of 
poor sinners, and the advancement of his king- 
dom. Lord, I thank thee ; make me humble. ' Not 
unto me, but to thy name, be the glory.' To thee 
it belongeth." 

" Dec. 25th. — Christmas day. Last night I 



Prayer-Meeting in the Forecastle. 137 

saw, for the first time, the constellation of the 
Southern Cross. We are passing through the 
Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, and not far from 9 P. M., 
reach Aden, Arabia. After staying here an hour 
or two, to send our Arab pilot ashore, we steam 
out into the Gulf of Aden." 

The evening prayer-meeting with the sailors was 
ever a place of refreshment to Mr. Kelley. On 
one occasion, after having a season of prayer in 
his cabin, preparatory to the meeting, as he passed 
to the forecastle, he remarked with quiet assur- 
ance, " We shall have the Lord's presence to-night, 
I know." 

(Journal.) " Wednesday, 27th. — This evening 
our little prayer-meeting was again held. I read 
a portion of Luke xiv. — the heavenly feast. I 
have looked for the Spirit's presence in this meet- 
ing, and verily I believe that Spirit was here. I 
trust the work of the Lord is begun in some of 
these souls. May he carry it on. ' The smoking 
flax he will not quench ; the bruised reed will he 
not break.' These feeble beginnings may he 
strengthen. May he grant the salvation of some 
of these souls. I think I enjoy this Wednesday 
evening more than all the week beside. It is sweet 
to work for the Saviour; and, O, what joy to 
work with him ! Praise be to him ! " 

" Friday, 29th. — Something about the engines 
being out of order, they were stopped nearly all 
this afternoon. A small whale has been playing 



138 A Consecrated Life. 

about the ship for some hours. I saw also a pilot 
fish, about two and a half feet long; a beautiful 
fish, of a light blue color, with purple fins. This 
fish is said to indicate the presence of sharks, 
whence its name ; but none havq been seen." 

" Sunday, Dec. 31st. — A strong breeze to-day ; 
nevertheless, we had service on deck. I tried to 
preach from the glorious text, ' Christ died for our 
sins, according to the Scriptures.' How little the 
words are regarded. The profanity, the intemper- 
ance, the indifference to true religion which are 
manifested pains me. Lip service is formalty ren- 
dered, and the life is one of sin." 

"Monday, Jan. 1st, 1872. — The firing of cannon 
on board, and the ringing of bells ushered in the 
New Year with us. I did not arise, but under- 
stand that rockets and blue-lights aided in the cel- 
ebration. The opening year finds us, I trust, in 
the path of duty." 

" Wed., Jan. 3d. — This evening we had again 
our prayer-meeting, and it was to me most delight- 
ful. With the Spirit of God with one, how ready 
he is for any emergency. A game of cards was 
being played in the forecastle when I went down, 
but they were then removed to make place for the 
reading of the Bible. I felt conscious, as I left 
my cabin to go, that whatever might be the cir- 
cumstances, the Spirit of God would be with us. 
So the meeting began, and it was most impressive. 
The lesson was, 6 Seek ye first the kingdom of God, 



Pointing to Christ. 139 

and all these tilings shall be added unto j r ou.' 
In response to the question whether some were 
not ready to decide that they would now seek first 
the kingdom of God, and in answer to a personal 
question, one said that he trusted that he had 
decided ; another, with whom I talked after the 
meeting, has also decided to, and is trying ; and 
another, I trust, is in nearly the same hopeful con- 
dition. There are five very interesting cases, be- 
sides others who are all accessible. Thanks be to 
the Lord for his marvellous work. O, may he con- 
tinue it yet more abundantly." 

"Sunday, 7th. — This morning the southern coast 
of Hindostan was said to be in sight. 

" I tried to preach to-day from the text, ' Who- 
soever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he 
hath, he cannot be my disciple.' It is probably 
the last opportunity that I shall ever have of 
preaching the Gospel to some of these present. 
May the Lord guide the results. 

u I have tried to sow the seed of the Word. It 
seems to have ; fallen by the wayside,' and utterly 
failed to penetrate the soil ; but of that God will 
take care. It has been a privilege to preach the 
Gospel even to such. In the afternoon I talked 
to some of the sailors, and to my great joy I find 
what seems to me good evidence that one of them 
is a child of God. He is a quiet, humble man, 
but I think there has been a true change in him. 
To G-od be the praise. How can I be sufficiently 



140 A Consecrated Life. 

thankful for this mercy. It is what I chie fly- 
desired all the way. O, may God grant that he 
shall be but the first-fruits." 

Monday, Jan. 8th. — To-day we reach Colombo 
(Island of Ceylon), after a forty-six days' absence 
from London. Not far from noon we come in sight 
of the Cingalese coast ; and soon after we see, with 
some distinctness, the town and the cocoa-nut trees 
about. About 2 p. m. we anchor in the harbor. I 
go on shore and post home letters. I stroll 
through the town, observing with interest the 
strange costumes (or want of costumes), and the 
general appearance of the Cingalese or Malabar 
inhabitants, the European and native houses and 
bazaars, the bullock carts, and especially the luxu- 
rious tropical vegetation. I see growing, for the 
first time, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit and plantains 
(bananas), and observe many other strange trees 
and flowers. 

"After a long walk, and a great many inquiries, 
I succeed in finding Rev. Mr. Waldock, the Eng- 
lish Baptist missionary here. He is just driving 
out to one of the out-stations to preach; and I 
accompany him. He seems a very pleasant man, 
and earnest in his work. We have a very pleasant 
drive, through the palm-trees ; and, the people not 
yet assembled, we go to the house of the native 
pastor, an intelligent and pious man, David Lewis. 
Soon we enter the chapel, a neat, comfortable 
structure in a grove of cocoa-nut palms. Though 



Ceylon. 141 

I cannot understand what is said, yet I am much 
interested in attending this, my first service in a 
heathen land. 

". These, my brother Christians, whom I hear fer- 
vently praying to the same God whom I adore, and 
thanking the same Jesus whom I love, were once 
Buddhists. May God make like them that whole 
nation of Buddhists to which we go." 

" Tuesday, Jan. 9th. — Arise early, and take an- 
other walk about Columbo. Eleven of our passen- 
gers were for this place. In the evening we com- 
mence steaming away." 

"Jan. 10th. — This morning finds us running 
south-east in sight of the coast of Ceylon. During 
the forenoon a water-spout is in sight. This even- 
ing we again have our prayer-meeting." 

" Jan. 11th. — To-day we pass the southernmost 
point of our voyage. (North Lat. 6°.) The 
North Star is very near the horizon, and the 
Southern Cross quite high above it toward morn- 
ing. This evening I had an opportunity to talk 
more fully with the Christian sailor mentioned 
before. His first religious impressions, and, I think 
his conversion, antedate this voyage, and are 
traceable to the instrumentality of a pious Amer- 
ican sailor. The latter was led to turn to the 
Lord by a stroke of lightning, which, while he 
was cursing, rendered him for some minutes 
speechless. I feel thankful that this friend, Bro. 
Creed, has, as he thinks, received good and been 



142 A Consecrated Life. 

' instructed in the way of God more perfectly ' 
during this voyage. He feels it his duty to pro- 
fess Christ openly. I told hii£ our views, and 
requested him to examine the Scriptures, and go 
with whatever people he thought he ought. I 
trust he is one of God's children. May the Lord 
guide his own, as he surely will." 

" Sunday, 14£A. — This morning finds us an- 
chored in the Madras roadstead. The town, from 
the ship, appears quite picturesque. The natives 
came off to the ship with articles for sale, stuffed 
fish, monkeys, parrots, ornaments of horn and bead- 
work, embroidered silk articles, etc. The boats 
are peculiar ; there are two kinds, the large surf- 
boat, of which the planks are sewed together with 
ropes, in order that they may not be dashed to 
pieces by the heavy surf in landing ; and the smaller 
catamarans, consisting of three or four logs tied 
together, the whole sharpened and bent upward 
in front. The surf-boats are manned with ten or 
twelve oarsmen ; the catamarans usually with two, 
who kneel on their flat craft, and paddle alter- 
nately on one side and the other. 

" The custom-house officers do not receive cargo 
on Sunday, so we lie quietly at anchor. Many of 
the passengers go on shore, and there is so much 
going on that the captain thinks it unadvisable to 
have public Christian service. 

"My wife is reading the memoir of Harriet 
Newell, and is again and again surprised and inter- 



Calcutta. 143 

ested at the similarity of experiences and feelings." 

" Wednesday, Ylth. — Last evening we left 
Madras. We had our prayer-meeting this evening. 
It was a most interesting meeting. Christ the 
bread of life was the subject." 

" Saturday, 20th. — We arrive at the Sand Heads 
this morning, and take on a pilot. We pass Saugur 
Island, a flat covered with jungle, and enter the 
River Hoogly, whose banks are of the same descrip- 
tion. Anchor 7 P. M. 

"Sunday, 21st. — Early this morning we pro- 
ceed up the Hoogly. The banks are covered with 
tropical vegetation — date and cocoa-nut palms 
and many beautiful trees. It is a scene of pictur- 
esque beauty. We see the scantily-dressed brown- 
skinned natives along the shore and in the boats 
on the river, and now and then pass something 
like a heathen temple. The King of Oudh's pal- 
aces, the Bishop's college, and many picturesque 
residences we steam by. 

" And soon we pass the shipping and anchor in 
the harbor of Calcutta ; and again see the good 
old flag from some American vessels. 

" Mr. Sykes comes on board for us, and ere long 
we have bid adieu to our companions on the ' Niger,' 
and have left our two months' home. 

"We drive to our stopping place on Wellesley 
Street, where we wait the steamer for Rangoon. 

" In the evening we attend service in the * Circu- 
lar Road Baptist Chapel, Rev. Mr. Williams, pas- 



144 A Consecrated Life. 

tor ; and hear a good sermon on c We are workers 
together with God.' Meet some of the English 
Baptist missionaries, warm-hearted men; some of 
the veterans in the cause. 

" The Lord has brought us safely through our 
long voyage, and we are amid the heathen. 
Thanks be to him for this. May he guide us 
and strengthen us in the work." 

" Monday, Jan. 22d. — Mrs. Kelley and I go down 
to the ' Busheer,' on which we are to take passage 
to Rangoon ; we drive back through some of the 
native bazaars, and see something of life among the 
Hindoos. The wretched condition of those dark- 
ened people affects us painfully. 

" We attend a prayer-meeting in the evening." 

" Jan. 23d. — Take breakfast with Rev. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kerry, and have the pleasure of visiting the 
school, and witnessing the teaching of a class in 
the English Scriptures. With Miss Kerry, we 
then called on Miss Britton, of the American Wo- 
man's Union Mission, and Mr. and Mrs. Cutter, 
formerly missionaries to Assam. 

" In the evening we take tea with Mr. Sykes, 
where we meet Rev. Dr. Wenger and Rev. Messrs. 
Kerry, Cutter, Jordan and Robertson. These dear 
Christian friends, of the English Baptist Mission, 
make our brief stay in Calcutta a delightful one." 

" Wednesday, 24:th. — In the evening Mrs. Kel- 
ley and I attend a meeting at the Lall Bazaar 
Chapel, where Dr. Carey labored. We look with 



Akyab, Arracan. 145 

interest on the tablet erected to the memory of the 
Serampore Missionaries (Carey, Marshman and 
Ward). This is the chapel where they preached; 
aiid here is the baptistery in which Judson and his 
wife were baptized. 

" How the work which these began has spread ! 
The little one has become a thousand. They were 
men of faith. God was in the work, and through 
them was working out his purposes." 

" Thursday, 26th. — To-day we go on board the 
fc Busheer,' bound for Rangoon." 

" Saturday, 27th. — I had an ill night last night ; 
was tossing with fever, caused, perhaps, by indiges- 
tion ; but am better to-day." 

" Sunday, 28th. — We entered the beautiful 
harbor of Akyab, Arracan, this morning. Mrs. 
Kelley and I took a brief walk on shore, and saw 
something of the place. About noon Mr. Hay 
came to the ship and asked me to preach in the 
English Church, their minister having been obliged 
recently to leave on account of sickness. During 
the drive to Mr. Hay's house, we passed the old 
mission compounds, and the burial-place of the 
missionaries under the trees by the sea-shore. 

" How sadly has the cry ' Six men for Arracan] 
been neglected. O, that God would raise up 
some one to preach the Gospel to this people ! 

" We also pass a Burmese funeral." 

And thus, on their introduction to this dark 



146 A Consecrated Life. 

land, they were greeted by this mournful spec- 
tacle : 

The funeral car was a fragile structure, extend- 
ing many feet in the air, and was decorated gaily 
with tinseled ornaments, peacock feathers, and gay 
colored handkerchiefs arranged as flags. The 
upper part of the car contained the casket, and 
the whole structure was borne on the shoulders 
of a few men. 

Preceding and following were a large company 
of men, women, and children; not the orderly 
procession of a Christian country, but the disor- 
derly one of a heathen land. Closely following 
were the native carts, which were decorated and 
well stocked with gifts for the priests. These 
were drawn by bullocks. Their musicians, dancers, 
and perhaps hired mourners also accompanied 
them. It appeared to be the aim of the musicians 
to extract as much noisy discord as possible from 
their different instruments, without regard to time 
or tune ; while the dancers accompanied their 
dance with singing, equally heathenish. Mingling 
with these confused noises were the occasional 
lamentations of the mourners. 

It was not strange that a scene such as this 
should stir the heart, and bring tears to the eyes 
of those who had had their home in a Christian 
land. 

Under the same date, Mr. Kelley records in his 
journal : 



Arrival in Rangoon. 147 

" At 3 P. M., I attempt to preach from 1 Cor- 
inthians xv : 3 ; ' Christ died for our sins, accord- 
ing to the Scriptures.' I enjoy exceedingly the 
privilege. 

u About dark we steam out of the harbor, for 
Rangoon." 

" Tuesday, 30£A. — Our hope of reaching Ran- 
goon to-day is disappointed; but we anchor in 
Rangoon River at night." 

With intense interest they behold, for the first 
time, Burman villages lighted up by the evening 
fires. 

" Wednesday, 31st. — Early this morning, after 
so long a journey, we reach Rangoon. We are in 
Burmah at last ; for which we would offer grateful 
thanks. Soon we come off to the shore, and 
receive a cordial welcome from Dr. Stevens ; and, 
after reading with interest the letters awaiting us, 
we visit the Mission Press, where we meet Rev. 
Messrs. Bennett and Vinton, and then go with Mr. 
Colburn to his house, which is to be our home 
during our short stay in Rangoon. We expect to 
go up the river at the first high tides ; i. #., at the 
new moon." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE morning on which Mr. and Mrs. Kelley 
found themselves on shore in Rangoon, sur- 
rounded by a motley company of Burmans, Hindoos, 
etc., where a crowd of black-skinned, half-naked 
men were loudly vociferating in " unknown 
tongues," as they contended for the privilege of 
removing the luggage ; they realized that they had 
indeed come to the land of the heathen. They 
looked out on this new world with mingled feel- 
ings of joy and sadness; sad, because looking upon 
fellow-creatures who know not God, who have 
only the hope which those have who bow down to 
idols ; joyful, because they have been permitted to 
come to this benighted region, where they hope to 
tell of " Jesus and his love." 

In Mr. Kelley's journal we find the following: 
148 



Meeting Native Christians. 149 

"Thursday, Feb. 1st, 1872. — Spent the day 
mostly indoors, writing, etc. Had, however, a most 
delightful walk with Bro. Colburn about the Kem- 
endine Mission premises in the morning, gathering 
many flowers, and observing many species of 
trees. In the evening, in company with Miss 
Gage, a dear missionary sister, we visit a Karen 
and a Burmese preacher in their homes. I judge 
that here, as everywhere, the Gospel introduces 
happiness into the home." 

It was, indeed, a privilege to grasp warmly by 
the hand those Burmese and Karen brothers and 
sisters, who, by the grace of God, had been re- 
deemed from heathenism. The interior of their 
houses seemed wretched abodes for human beings 
to live in. Nevertheless, they were lightened up 
by the precious hopes of the Gospel. By the kind 
expression of their faces, and also through Miss 
Gage, who acted as interpreter, they expressed 
their pleasure in seeing the new teachers. 

(Journal.) "Saturday, Feb. 3d. — To-day we 
engage our cook and general servant, Thomas, a 
Madrasee, and professed Catholic. Spend some 
time in shopping, preparatory to housekeeping. 
Pay our first visits to the native bazaars. Called 
on Dr. and Mrs. Binney and Dr. Wade on our 
return from town. Received my first letter from 
home, and most welcome it was." 

u Sunday, Feb. \.tli. — Spent most of this quiet, 
good day at Kemendine. In the evening I again 



150 A Consecrated Life. 

attempted to preach. The subject was the suffer- 
ings and death of Christ. I can again say that it 
was a privilege to preach, though I preached so 
poorly. May the Lord own his own truth. After 
the service we were permitted to partake of the 
Lord's Supper ; to be again impressively reminded 
of the fact that Jesus died that we might live. 

" Met Mrs. Stevens after the meeting." 

Mr. Kelley had been assigned to the mission 
station at Toungoo; of the journey thither, he 
thus writes : 

(Journal.) " Tuesday, 6th. — To-day we pack 
up furniture, etc., and take leave of Bro. and Sister 
Colburn, who have been very kind indeed, during 
our stay with them ; take dinner with Dr. and 
Mrs. Stevens, and go on board our boat in the 
evening. 

"We find our quarters in the boat larger than 
we expected ; and, on the whole, very comfortable 
indeed. We drop down after dark and enter the 
Pegu River." 

" Wednesday, Feb. 7th. — Last night we went up 
with the tide, and anchor this morning, waiting for 
another tide. 

"The foliage on the bank is sometimes very 
graceful. Just after sunset we enter Kyazoo 
Creek, a very narrow passage. Pass natives 
threshing out rice with buffaloes, by the light of 
the burning straw. Early in the evening we are 
stopped by low water, and boats ahead of us." 



Letter to his Brother. 151 

" Thursday, 8th. — This morning we go clown the 
Kyazoo Creek, and stop at the native village of 
Thanapia, where I wish to find a certain Burman. 
My wife and I walk through the village, while the 
boatmen eat their breakfast. We thus see the 
Burmans at home. We do not find very much of 
refinement, to say the least. On account of the 
low water, we are obliged to wait here several 
hours for the tide. Early in the evening we arrive 
at Kyazoo, a native village, at the mouth of the 
creek of that name. Here we make fast, to await 
the morning's tidal wave." 

To his brother, now Dr. Louis L. Kelley : 

" Kyazoo, Sitang River, Burmah, Feb. 8th, 1872. 

" My Dear Brother : I take the present oppor- 
tunity to put into execution my purpose to write 
you. It seems a long time since I left home, and I 
am far away, and in a heathen land. Neverthe- 
less I am happy ; happy in the confidence that God 
will guide me, and in the enjoyment of his pres- 
ent goodness. 

" There are a great many things that would, I 
think, be of interest to you, and some of which I 
may write ; but the thing of which I ought first to 
write is this: the constant goodness of God. He 
has preserved us amid dangers by the way ; he has 
kept us when others were lost; he is our refuge and 
protector now ; and in his hands we feel that we 
are safe. And we have many comforts that we 



152 A Consecrated Life. 

did not expect. In fact, I see not why we may 
not be in general as comfortable here as in Amer- 
ica. Perhaps I may feel differently when the 
hot weather comes on." 

" It is now near the close of the cold season, and 
the weather is that of our dog-days at home. At 
night it is cooler, so that usually a blanket feels 
comfortable before morning ; but in the day time 
the sun is so hot that it is not safe to be exposed 
to it long. 

" With the aid of a solar hat (very large, thick 
and light, made of a kind of pith), and a native 
umbrella (such as you have perhaps seen, clumsy, 
but exceedingly serviceable), one does very well 
for a little while, if obliged to be out, but my head 
soon begins to feel uncomfortable and I should fear 
a sun-stroke if out long. The natives can work in 
the sun all day, their brown skin shining like oil, 
and sometimes their heads entirely uncovered or 
even shaven — and experience no ill effects. If an 
European tries to do it he is very soon laid up, and 
may be in poor health for years in consequence. 

u We are at present living in our boat, and ex* 
pect to be until the end of next week. But next 
Sunday we hope to spend with Bro. Harris at 
Shwaygyeen. 

" The boat is, I should say, fifty to seventy-five 
feet long, and in the middle perhaps seven feet 
wide. At the stern is the helmsman or captain, 
and, when they are rowing, one oarsman ; in the 



Travelling in a Burmese Boat. 153 

prow are two other oarsmen. These make up the 
crew. They are all Burmese, and, of course, do 
not understand English. Jennie and myself, and 
our Madrasee cook (a young man who cooks, 
talks Burmese for us to the crew, etc., and helps 
us generally) are the other occupants of the boat. 
k Thomas (the cook) has a fire-place (a box of sand, 
I believe) in the fore part of the boat. With a 
tea-kettle, a frying-pan, and a few sticks of fire- 
wood, he manufactures excellent meals out of the 
simple provisions we brought on board. Back of 
the fire-place his mat is spread, back of that is our 
luggage. Next is our dining room, study and par- 
lor, a very cosy little place, perhaps ten feet long, 
and the width of the boat. It is covered by a 
bamboo roof, sloping towards each side ; which 
keeps out the sun, and is high enough so that I 
can just stand erect in the centre. The sides of 
the room, for perhaps three feet, are the sides of 
the boat ; above that, bamboo matting which we 
can raise for windows, or close to keep out the 
sun. The room (or cabin) is open in front ; we 
spread a red curtain across when we wish to be 
by ourselves. In this little cabin is one of our 
trunks, on which I am sitting, a most convenient 
camp-chair, which Jennie uses, some boxes and 
books, and also a small folding study-table which 
I purchased in Rangoon, and which we use for a 
dining-table, etc. I am writing on it now by the 
light of a lantern. Just back of this cabin is our 



154 A Consecrated Life. 

sleeping-place ; it is a raised platform covered with 
mats and bedding. Under it our goods are packed 
away. There is not room to stand on it, but it 
answers as a sleeping-place. Jennie has hung 
a musquito curtain all around it. By the way, 
musquito curtains are a necessity' in this country, 
on account of the numerous insects, etc. 

" Well, have you got a good idea of our quar- 
ters ? We are very pleasantly situated for a trip 
of twelve to fourteen clays. We move along 
rather slowly. Some of the time the men row, 
but usually push with poles, walking back and 
forth upon planks which extend along the sides of 
the boat from the prow back to the cabin. Some 
of the time they walk on shore and tow. 

" This evening we came to anchor beside this 
native village of Kyazoo. Here we wait for the 
'bore,' which will occur to-morrow morning. 
Owing to the peculiar shape of the mouth of the 
Sitang River (funnel shaped), we have here some 
of the highest tides in the world. This ' bore ' is 
the first wave of the incoming tide at new and full 
moon. It comes in with a rush, and is dangerous. 
It is said sometimes to be fifteen feet high, and 
would swamp a ship, to say nothing of a boat like 
ours. For this reason, ships never venture into 
the mouth of this river. 

" I am told that one or two have come in with- 
out knowing it, and have been lost with all on 
board. The ' bore ' is highest three days after 



On the Sitang. 155 

the new or full moon ; to-morrow is the day of the 
new moon. 

" I shall write more and send this from Toungoo." 

(Journal.) " Friday, 9th. — Early this morn- 
ing I was awakened by the call of the boatmen to 
one another, and heard the roar of the c bore ' or 
tidal wave ascending the Sitang. It sounded like 
a distant waterfall, but grew louder and louder 
till it passed the creek, and then gradually sub- 
sided as it receded from us up the Sitang. Soon 
we hear the lighter wave coming into the creek, 
and soon see it, a wall of water of about three 
feet high rushing toward us, and in a moment we 
are in a rapid current. The boatmen unloose and 
push across the creek, and soon out into the Sitang 
and up on the tide. Day has not yet dawned ; 
Jupiter in the west, Venus in the east, the North 
Star and the Southern Cross have all been aiding 
us by their light. Later, the day is a beautiful 
one, and the river is charming. The banks are cov- 
ered with high tufted grass, or, especially as we as- 
cend the river, are more abrupt and crowned with 
lofty forest trees. Some of these trees are covered 
with flowers ; one is thus of a scarlet color, an- 
other vine is loaded with purple blossoms and in 
many places the banks are fringed with a shrub 
bearing yellow flowers. The vegetation is both 
graceful and luxuriant. As we come out from 
under the roof of our boat, to enjoy the cool of the 



156 A Consecrated Life 

evening, we are delighted with the prospect. The 
river is broad, and its surface like a mirror, reflect- 
ing with new beauty the verdure of the shores and 
the fading sunset. A large island to the left is 
covered with luxuriant vegetation, and the hilly 
banks on the right with large, beautiful forest trees, 
and occasionally a pagoda. 

" It is a picture of calm beauty. Above, various 
water-fowls are flying, and now and then a pair of 
fiddle birds pass over, amusing us with what 
appears to be the steady creaking of their wings." 

" Saturday, Feb. \Qth. — We are still moving up 
the beautiful Sitang. Towards noon the eastern 
mountains come in sight, and Shwaygyeen mountain 
is pointed out. In the afternoon we arrive at Shway- 
gyeen. I go up to Bro. Harris's house, and after 
his elephants come in, we go down with them for 
Mrs. Kelley. So she and I have our first elephant 
ride. 

"We find Bro. Harris a solitary missionary, with 
only Karens about him. It is twenty-five years 
since he came to Burmah. It is very pleasant to 
meet with him, to receive his cordial welcome, to 
enjoy his unaffected hospitality, and to hear of the 
trials and encouragements of his missionary life, 

" We find Shwaygyeen abounds in pagodas, idols, 
and idol temples." 

Here they felt somewhat as Paul did at Athens, 
when he saw the whole city given to idolatry. 
O, that the moral and spiritual darkness of Shway- 



Oil the Sitting. 157 

gyeen might disappear before the rays of the Sun 
of Righteousness ! 

(Journal.) "Sunday, Feb. 11th. — This morn- 
ing we attended service in the chapel. Mr. Harris 
preached in Karen. Toward evening we have a 
prayer-meeting for the English speaking people, 
which I conduct. We spend a quiet, pleasant 
Lord's day." 

" Monday, 12th. — This forenoon we bid good- 
bye to Bro. Harris, with whom we have had so 
delightful a stop, and again embark on our floating 
home." 

To Rev. S. T. Goodell he writes: 

" Here we are ascending the Sitang, and you, we 
hope, have nearly reached Rangoon by this time. 
By virtue of our short precedence of you, I bid you 
welcome to Burmah. 

. . . . " We have as yet done nothing of 
consequence in regard to the language. I have, 
however, made myself familiar with the Shan 
alphabet." 

(Journal.) " Sunday, 18th. — Spend a peaceful 
and happy Lord's day here on the Sitang." 

About this time, in a letter to his brother, he 
says : 

"We pass native villages a great many times 
during the day, and see the half-clad inhabitants ; 



158 A Consecrated Life. 

pagodas and kyoungs, (priests' dwellings) we also 
see in abundance. All the distance from Rangoon 
to Toungoo, there is only one missionary, and he 
is in poor health. We, of course, can't talk with 
the people at all, not even our boatmen. By and 
by, I think we will need to learn Burmese, but at 
first we must confine ourselves to Shan. It w r ill 
be long, I fear, ere we can speak even with the 
Shans. 

" We pass herds of buffaloes very often. They 
are fond of standing up to their backs in the river. 
As I write, I see a Burman riding one up the 
river bank — taking him to work, I suppose." 

Mr. Kelley had been asked by the Board to go 
to the Shan mission more particularly because Mr. 
Cushing was in poor health, and it was expected 
he would return to America. He, however, re- 
covered and remained. 

Near the termination of the journey on the 
Sitang Mr. Kelley thus writes in his journal : 

" Monday, lQth. — A little past noon to-day we 
meet a boat with some of the Shan Christians. 
With what interest do we look upon these for 
whom we have come to labor ! They bring our 
home mail and some fresh provisions, sent down by 
Bro. Cushing, and in the afternoon, Bro. Cushing 
himself. He accompanies us up the river some 
distance, but we fail to reach Toungoo at night, 
and he returns by land.' 



Arrival in Toungoo. 159 

" Tuesday, 20th. — Early this morning we land 
at Toungoo. During the clay we meet all the 
missionaries ; Brethren dishing, Bunker, Cross, 
and their wives and Dr. Mason. This little com- 
pany of those whose labors and feelings are one, is 
most delightful. Spend much of the day in un- 
packing and putting things to rights." 

" Wednesday, 21st. — Four months since we 
sailed from New York. We would raise our grate- 
ful thanks and praises to the Lord that we are 
here at last. 

" To-day is mail-day, and we spent some time 
in writing. Take my first lesson in Shan this 
morning, as does Mrs. Kelley also." 

The dear native Christians who had been pray- 
ing for their safe arrival came to the mission house 
to shake hands and get acquainted. 

And most interesting it was to meet them, and 
listen to their strange language. In the hour for 
social prayer, or at worship in the chapel, it was 
affecting to bow with them at the throne of grace 
and listen to their songs of praise — translations 
of our own familiar hymns, such as — 

" O happy day, that fixed my choice 
On thee, my Saviour and my God." 

(Journal.) " Sunday, 25th. — Spend a quiet 
day of rest, rest to the mind and the soul. Lis- 
tened to a Burmese sermon in the morning, by 



160 A Consecrated Life. 

Sang Myat, and in the forenoon to a sermon in 
Shan, by Bro. Cushing. In the evening I again 
attempt to preach. 

" It is good that a beginning has been made in 
the Shan mission. There are even now a few faith- 
ful men and preachers whom the Lord has brought 
unto himself, and they are a great help." 

On Mr. Kelley's arrival he found that the mis- 
sionarie j proposed spending the two hottest months 
on one of the mountains near Toungoo. They 
asked him to accompany them, stating that, as his 
first work would be the acquisition of the language, 
he could accomplish more in the way of studj^ on 
the mountain, where it would be comparatively 
cool, than in the city during the great heat ; accord- 
ingly lie complied with their proposal. And thus 
he writes in his journal : 

" Monday, 26th. — This morning we start for 
the mountains ; at an early hour Mrs. Cushing and 
Mrs. Kelley get off in the boat. Soon Mr. Cush- 
ing and I mount our ponies, and a canter of six 
miles brings us to the Yay-gyau, where we cross 
the Sitang, and are joined by the ladies. 

"We ride on our ponies, and they are borne in 
baskets on the shoulders of coolies, to Taut-sah-loo, 
a Karen village near the base of the mountain. 
Before dark we reach the summit, where we find 
our bamboo houses, and Bro. Bunker awaiting us. 
I have enjoyed the ride through the jungle exceed- 
ingly. Trees and tall grass in the low plain, and 



In the Jungle. 161 

magnificent forest trees, with great vines or creepers 
twisted about them, or hanging from them, and 
occasionally beautiful flowers, are the objects pre- 
sented to the eye." 

14 Tuesday, 27th. — To-day we have been study- 
ing on the language. The mountain air is delight- 
ful, cool (comparatively) and fragrant. It is a 
most excellent place for study, and I hope we may 
give many hours a day to this." 

44 K'Surdo, near Toungoo, Mar. 5th, 1872. 

44 Dear Father and Mother : Well, you see 
we have changed our quarters again. We have 
not been quite three weeks in any one place since 
we left Boston. K'Surdo is the Karen for ' Great 
Mountain ; ' the Burmans call this place Toungee, 
which has the same meaning. Last year Mrs. 
Bunker was so ill that her life was almost despaired 
of, and Mr. Bunker feared that he would be obliged 
to return to America. He thought, however, as a 
last resort, he would try what this mountain air 
would do for her. A two months' stay here restored 
her health and saved the trip home. The other 
missionaries here, and Captain and Mrs. Petley, 
English Christians, joined them, and were so well 
pleased with the change that they decided to spend 
these two hot months here also, and asked us to join 
them. It will doubtless be better for our health, 
and we can accomplish more work. 

" Our houses are all of bamboo except the roof, 



162 A Consecrated Life. 

which is of thatch, or long grass. The posts and 
beams are large bamboos ; the rafters, table frames, 
etc., are smaller bamboos. The floor, side and 
partition walls, table-tops, shelves, etc., are of split 
bamboo ; and, instead of nails, the whole is tied 
together with bamboo strings." 

" Col. Tripe's (an English Christian who was 
here last year) house fell to us, and I paid the sum 
of nine rupees, about $ 4.10, for repairing it. Not 
a large sum for a convenient house. We can pour 
water through the floor anywhere, and occasionally 
a chair leg slips through between the splits, and 
we can see the stars at night without rising ; but 
an airy house is far more comfortable this weather. 
With a good pair of shears I think we could cut 
the walls or floor anywhere. Still, the house is 
strong enough for all necessary purposes. Our 
water-pails are also joints of large bamboo. 

" I don't know what the Karens would do with- 
out the bamboo. They make of it their houses, 
and about everything they need. Our mats and 
brooms are also of bamboo. 

" A heathen teacher has been engaged and is 
coming up soon; meanwhile, one of the Shan 
preachers is teaching us. Moung Loong is his 
name — a very pleasant man. He was baptized by 
Mr. Bixby. 

" Of course he does not speak English. I find 
out the meaning of his words mainly by signs. 

" We have been in Toungoo two weeks, and I 



The Shan Language. 163 

have eighty or ninety Shan words. The chief 
difficulty is with the tones. There are five differ- 
ent tones pronounced with partially closed lips, 
and the same five again with the lips wide open ; 
and a word may have an entirely distinct meaning 
in each of these ten sounds. Thus the word ' kow ' 
has, according as it is pronounced with one or 
another of these tones, ten meanings totally unlike, 
viz. : 1st tone, closed lips, ' I ; ' 2d, ' old ; ' 3d, 
'nine;' 4th, 'indifferent,' 'secure;' 5th, 'an owl.' 
1st tone, lips wide open, ' the butea tree ; 2d tone, 
to regret ' (the loss of a person) ; 3d, ' the lower 
part of the leg ; ' 4th, ' the balsam plant ; ' 5th, ' a 
kind of mill.' A person without a musical ear is 
at some loss here ; for a little inaccuracy in inflec- 
tion makes him say something far different from 
what he intended to say. Then, too, there is the 
word ' khow,' which a person accustomed to Eng- 
lish would not without training distinguish from 
the other, which also has several different meanings, 
'rice,' 'white,' 'shake,' etc. 

" I think I can distinguish with tolerable accu- 
racy now most of the tones. With the help of the 
Lord I hope to master them. 

" The animals on this mountain consist of bears, 
tigers, wild pigs, deer, monkeys, squirrels, pigeons, 
other birds, etc. The Karens were frightened last 
night by what they declared to be the cry of a 
tiger in the ravine back of the house. 

" The coolie is waiting for this letter, and I must 



164 A Consecrated Life. 

close, although I have much more I would like to 
say. Write often. With much love — in haste." 

Having occasion to go down to the city of 
Toungoo he says : 

" Friday, Mar. 22d. — Bro. Cushing accom- 
panies me, partly on account of some trouble 
regarding one of the Shan preachers, who thinks 
of leaving. About 4 p. M. we start down the 
mountain. We have one pony between us, which 
we ride alternately until we reach the river, at the 
Yay-gyau, ten or twelve miles from the mountain 
summit. About ten o'clock we lie down here in 
an old kyoung, and spend the night; without 
much sleep, however." 

" Sat., 23d. — This morning we go into Toungoo. 
Bro. Cushing sends for the preacher with whom 
the trouble is. Both wounded pride (in a love- 
affair) and self-interest combine to tempt this man 
to go ; but the claims of Jesus and the Gospel 
finally outweigh, and he decides to remain. We 
are both encouraged at the ending of this matter. 
The Lord has guided it — to Him be the praise. 
It is encouraging too, to see that down deep in the 
hearts of these disciples they do love Jesus. I 
think that, under all the circumstances, only the 
love of Christ could have induced this man to 
remain." 

"Sunday, 24:th. — I try to preach this evening 
from the text, John x: 14. ' I know my sheep, 



In the Jungle. 165 

and am known of mine.' Retire in good season, 
but it is too hot to sleep much." 

"Monday, 25th. — We rise this morning a little 
past two, and about 4 A. M. are off again for 
K'Surdo. The heat is very enervating. We 
reach the mountain summit about 9 A. M. Study 
during the day." 

To his parents he writes thus : 

u K'Surdo,near Toungoo, Burmah, Mar. 28th, 1872. 

" We are still in this cooling off place. I can 
jabber Shan a little. I have now between three 
and four hundred words, which I can use more or 
less, and can often get the thread of what is said 
in conversation. The language sounds very pecu- 
liar as you hear a person read or speak it, striking 
one word on a high key and another on a low, and 
so on. Their reading sounds very much like sing- 
ing. 

" I intended to write you before in regard to the 
mission here ; but, having waited till I am accus- 
tomed to things here as they are, I hardly know 
now what to write. The Shan church numbers 
thirteen, and of these only eight are Shans — the 
rest being Burmese. I have seen and heard what 
has convinced me that the power of the Gospel 
has taken hold of some of these souls. I am sure 
I shall love the work very much. Doubtless, often, 
my patience and faith will be sorely tried ; but the 
Lord has helped us here, and, I believe, will do 



166 A Consecrated Life. 

great things for us. He is all our trust, he only 
can do this work. 

" By the way, John Wesley's saying, c that clean- 
liness is next to godliness, ' is confirmed by the 
state of the heathen ; as they are, for the most 
part, very filthy. 

" And did you know, too, that it is true that 
laughing is a Christian virtue. The Christian 
Karens laugh; the heathen Karens, I am told, 
rarely or ever do ; nor do the heathen Shans or 
Burmese, except it be at something indecent. The 
Gospel drives away gloom, and brings cheerfulness. 

" What you say in regard to the great need of 
men and women to fill the vacant places, and 
occupy new fields, is emphatically true. I think 
it is not at all extravagant to say, that ten times 
the number of missionaries now in Burmah, would 
find ample room for labor here. The Lord is 
greatly blessing the Karen Mission in Toungoo. 

. . . . " Remember me to Dr. Haskell, and 
all my dear friends/' 

To Rev. W. O. Ayer, his former class-mate at 
Newton : 

" Mt. K'Surdo, near Toungoo, Burmah, Apr. 9, '72. 
" Dear Bro. Ayer : Hoping that your new 
relations as pastor and as husband do not engross 
all your attention, I venture to write you a little bit 
of a letter. My Shan teacher has been called 



In the Jungle. 107 

away for a day or two, by the sickness of a rela- 
tive, and I propose to improve a portion of the 
time by letter-writing. You are settled with a 
church ; laboring day after day and week after 
week, and receiving, I hope, some tokens of good. 
I am here in the midst of the work, but, as yet, 
unable to do anything except prepare. I look for- 
ward with some eagerness to the time when I 
shall be able to tell more or less freely the good 
tidings of the kingdom of God. I hope it will not 
be many months ere I can do something. This is 
the fourth day since we reached Toungoo that my 
Shan study has been omitted. I learn, on the 
average, about ten new words per day. We 
reached Toungoo seven weeks ago to-day. So you 
see I have made a beginning. 

" The Shan is a monosyllabic, tonal language. 
By the latter expression, it is meant that each 
word has its proper tone or inflection. Two words 
spelt precisely alike, and pronounced, precisely 
alike, except in inflection, may be altogether dis- 
tinct in meaning. I have learned six meanings for 
the word seu (viz., tiger, spread, straight or upright, 
jacket, he happy, and buy — entirely distinct in 
meaning, you see) ; and presume the word has 
other meanings also. Considering my want of all 
musical talent — a fact to which you will bear 
witness — I feared these tones would be a great 
obstacle. I am succeeding with them better than 
I feared; yet I doubt not I shall often make mis- 



168 A Consecrated Life. 

• 
takes. As you may imagine they do give rise to 
some most ludicrous mistakes. 

" I believe I have begun this letter at the wrong 
end ; there are so many things that I would like to 
write about, that I don't know in what order to 
proceed. But you will be interested to know 
something of our voyage here, and after that per- 
haps something of the appearance of the country, 
our present situation, what we think of the field, 
etc 

" We form a small village here by ourselves. 
We live, native style, in bamboo houses. The 
thermometer here, in the middle of the day, is 
90° to 95° in the shade ; in Toungoo it is about 
10° or 15° warmer. And we have here a cool 
breeze at night, enabling us to sleep, and cool 
delightful morning air ; both of which are wanting 
in the city. 

" The fashion in Toungoo, at this season, I am 
told, is to fan one's self asleep, and to arise occasion- 
ally during the night, to wring the perspiration 
from one's clothes. I am glad that we have not to 
pass this ordeal at present ; the heat here is quite 
sufficient for me. 

" If ever again you hear the old statements, that 
in the tropics birds, though beautiful in plum- 
age, never sing; and that flowers, though bril- 
liant, are never fragrant, please contradict them 
on my authority. Every morning the inhabitants 



In the Jungle. 169 

of Stump Square* are entertained with a choice 
concert. Often, when walking in the morning, I 
have passed under flowering trees, or past blossom- 
ing shrubs, which filled the whole atmosphere with 
delicious fragrance. I have been obliged to correct 
one impression of the country which I had formed. 
Palms, plantains, etc., though frequent, consti- 
tute but a small part of the vegetation. . . . 

u I find there are still left a few lines in which 
to say something about the people. I hope I don't 
think of them last, if I do mention them last. 

" The people are heathen ; which means more to 
me now than when I left home. It means physi- 
cally they are unclean — half-naked, both men and 
women, and very filthy. It means that morally 
they are degraded ; liars, adulterers, thieves ; and 
without shame for it. It means that spiritually 
they are dead ; without God and without hope in 
the world. 

" The Shans are bigoted Buddhists ; often afraid 
to listen to the Gospel, lest they shall fall into hell 
in consequence of it. 

" I must close my letter, as there is just now an 
opportunity to send it down for the mail. 

"Remember us in your prayers. With kindest 
wishes. Your brother in Christ, 

"E. D. Kelley." 

(Journal.) " Sunday, Apr. 14th. — We have 

♦The cleared spot on the mountain, where their houses were built. 



170 A Consecrated Life. 

our usual religious services in the ' dah.' May the 
Lord make us more fervent." 

"Tuesday, lQth. — To-day Bro. Bunker and I 
start down the mountain, for the plain. Three or 
four Karens accompany us. On our return up 
one of the mountain ravines, we find a vein of 
rock, filled with beautiful quartz crystals ; and 
also shoot a boa, twelve feet long, and fifteen 
inches in circumference." 

" Friday, IQth. — Last night we had a very severe 
thunder storm. The rain very soon came through 
our thatched roof, all over the house ; but we had 
the bed covered with a canopy of mats, and found 
a dry place there. 

" The rain cooled and cleared the air, and to-day 
it is delightful. Study as usual." 

" Sunday, Apr. 21s£. — Listened to the reading 
of a sermon on the glories of the future life. An 
encouraging theme for meditation. 

" ' I know not — O, I know not 
What joys await me there, 
What radiancy of glory, 
What bliss beyond compare. 
O, sweet and blessed country, 
The home of God's elect, 
O, sweet and blessed country, 
That eager hearts expect ! 
Jesus, in mercy bring us 
To that dear land of rest, 
Who art with God the Father 
And Spirit ever blessed/ " 



CHAPTER IX. 

SHORTLY before leaving Mount K'Surdo, they 
met with a sad loss in the death of their dear 
child ; who was laid away in the grave the day 
after her birth. When writing of this to his 
mother, Mr. Kelley says: 

"K'Surdo, near Toungoo, May 1th, 1872. 
" We mourn that the privilege of rearing this 
little daughter was not given to us. It is a great 
sorrow to us both. We can only say, ' the Lord's 
will be done.' We wish to commit our ways unto 
him, and let him guide us ; we would not dare 
to order for ourselves. We are in his hands, and 

he knows best Our household at 

present consists of five persons ; besides ourselves 
there is Mai, the old Shan woman, who is a mem- 

171 



172 A Consecrated Life. 

ber of the church here, and I think a real Chris- 
tian. Then there is our Maclrasee cook ; and also 
my Shan teacher, Sang Kham. He seems a good- 
natured young man ; but he is a heathen. I can 
talk very little with him on religious subjects, as 
yet. I do desire that he may become a Christian. 

" The rains have set in, and every day we have 
more or less. Our bamboo house is somewhat 
dilapidated ; and the consequence is that the rain 
comes through, over the larger part of it. We 
have put a number of mats over the bed, and here 
all is dry. 

" Our leather travelling-bags and boots have 
become mouldy inside and out ; so you may judge 
of the state of the weather 

" I have been spending the day as usual, dili- 
gently at work on the Shan. Remember me kindly 
to all ; and don't forget to pray for us." 

Mai, the old Shan woman, to whom allusion was 
made in the preceding letter, was a most interesting 
woman. Many years before she left Ly-kah, her 
home in the Shan ' country, for the purpose of 
making a pilgrimage to the great Shway-Dagong 
pagoda, in Rangoon, thus hoping to gain a great 
deal of merit. But, having to pass through Toung- 
oo, on her way to Rangoon, she there heard, as 
she said, from some of the disciples, of the " Jesus 
Christ religion ; " and immediately became inter- 
ested hi it. The native Christians brought her to 
the mission-house, where she became more fully 



In the Jungle. 173 

instructed by teacher Bixby. The Holy Spirit 
enlightened her mind, and she gladly received 
Christ into her heart. She was afterwards baptized 
by Mr. Bixby, for whom she still retains a warm 
affection. 

In the catalogue of the undesirable, a resident in 
Burmah, more especially in the jungle, will be very 
apt to find snakes. Missionaries, and Europeans 
in general, wonderfully escape contact with them ; 
but among the natives, many deaths occur annually 
from snake-bites. This is more particularly true 
of India Proper, as Mr. Kelley wrote to a friend, 
" where, in the Bengal presidency alone, more than 
fourteen thousand deaths from the bites of venom- 
ous serpents were officially reported during the 
year 1871." 

In some of his home letters, he thus speaks of 
these dreaded reptiles : 

" A poisonous snake was shot while descending 
a tree near one of the houses. Another was dis- 
covered in one of the houses, and shot on a tree 
near by; he measured six and a half feet long; 
and two others of the same species and size were 
killed near the house. Three snakes were seen in 
Bro. Bunker's house, two of which were killed. 
One of these, six feet long, had come in in the 
evening, and was found eating out of the butter- 
plate, on the table. How would you like house- 



174 A Consecrated Life. 

keeping in the jungle in Burmah? Recently I 
have killed two venomous snakes, which I suppose 
belong to the deadliest species found in Burmah, 
the brown viper, whose bite is said to cause almost 
immediate death. I also shot in a tree a belted 
hamadryad, a deadly snake, about six feet long." 

And at a later date he says : 

" Saturday morning I was walking along alone, 
when suddenly I caught sight of the ugly head 
and neck of a large snake right before me. The 
head was raised perhaps three feet ; and he was 
running out his tongue. He was, perhaps, fifteen 
feet from me ; he was probably a boa (or more 
correctly, a python). I took a good aim at him, 
but the gun had gathered dampness the night 
before, and did not go off; soon he was down 
over the rocks out of sight. I think he was not 
less than twelve feet long. 

" Toward evening I again strolled down the path 
a little way ; and, as I came round a turn in the 
path, I cast my eyes on the ground ahead, and saw 
the long tail of a snake dragging across the path. 
I raised my gun and fired ; I saw him jump up ; 
and ran back a few paces and reloaded ; I then 
came up cautiously, and found him lying in the 
bushes nearly dead, but able to move his head. I 
aimed again and finished him. He proved to be 
the most dangerous species of snake, I believe, 



In the Jungle. 175 

that is to be found here. It will pursue a man, 
runs very fast, and is deadly ; so the Shans told me. 
Mr. Bunker shot one in pursuit of him last year. 
This one was smaller than his, as this measured 
only ten feet long. Still, I was glad I had a chance 
at him before he did at me. 

" In our house the only dangerous thing we have 
seen is a centipede, whose sting is very painful, but 
I doubt if ever fatal. Ants, mosquitoes, bugs, and 
insects indescribable, we have in abundance. Two 
scorpions have been found outside. 

" If we come up here next year, I hope to spend 
my hours of recreation in studying the animals 
and plants of the country. Next year may be the 
last opportunity for this, as after that I do hope we 
shall be up in the Shan States. I expect, ere that 
time, to preach some, and shall probably be often 
down in the city and in the Shan villages about, 
trying to tell the good news." 



On the afternoon of the thirteenth of May, 
might be seen a little company wending their way 
through the dense jungle, down the sides of the 
mountain. Sad hearts are in that little procession, 
for they are leaving on that lonely mountain sum- 
mit a little new-made grave, where lies buried the 
child of their fond expectations. While bereft 
and sorrowful, they comfort one another with the 
thought that : 



176 A Consecrated Life. 

" She is not dead — the child of our affection — 

But gone into that school 
Where she will never need our poor protection, 

And Christ himself doth rule." 

In reference to that journey, Mr. Kelley writes 
to Mrs. Blackadar, Mrs. Kelley's mother, as fol- 
lows: 

" Toungoo, May 24th, 1872. 

" We had some Shan coolies to carry our clothes, 
cooking utensils, books, etc. ; but Kalah coolies 
(they were Teloogoos) carried Jennie down the 
mountain in a palanquin. [Mr. Kelley walked.] 
We stopped for the night in the Christian Karen 
village of Tautzaloo, near the foot of the moun- 
tain. Rev. Kyouk Kai, the teacher of this village, 
and probably as genuine, unselfish a Christian as 
Burmah or America can produce, brought clean 
mats for us, and gave us a lodging-place on the 
verandah of his new house. (The verandah is 
usually a much better sleeping-place -than the 
interior.") 

" The next morning, as soon as it was light, we 
again started. The bearers of the palanquin, who 
took turns, accompanied their labor with a 
kind of song, according to their custom; but it 
might have been dispensed with, as far as music 
was concerned. They grew more and more noisy 
as they approached the city , and at 11 A. M., 



In the City. 177 

trotted up to the Shan Mission house in genuine 
Hindoo style. 

. . . . " Our first work was to unpack our 
boxes from America. The white ants had made 
their way into two boxes ; but most providentially 
they were the boxes of chairs, and the wood 
proved too hard for them. Had they entered our 
box of clothing, they would probably have de- 
stined the whole. 

"I have undertaken the charge of the Shan 
school ; it is, I think, a good thing for me, as it 
is just so much drill in talking; the Shan teacher 
does most of the teaching. 

"We wish you would come in and see us, and 
we would like to drop in and see you in your 
home. Doubtless we may sometime, but I hope 
we may be able to speak of progress in the work 
here ere then. 

" My heart is saddened as I see the condition of 
things, but I trust the Lord will guide the work." 

To his parents : 

" Toungoo, May 31#, 1872. 

" I will attempt to write you a hasty letter ere 
the mail closes. Four months ago to-day we 
reached Rangoon. 

" I often think that our progress in learning the 
language is slow, and that we seem to be accom- 
plishing very little ; but when T consider the 



178 A Consecrated Life. 

little time we have been at work (little more 
than three months) the progress does not seem so 
trifling. I can talk and read some and am slowly 
advancing. 

" I hope sometime to be able to communicate 
with the people freely. It is unnecessary to say 
that I long for that time to come, especially when 
I see their need of the Gospel, and in many cases 
their polite willingness to hear. 

" I have visited Shan villages once or twice with 
Bro. dishing, and also once or twice with na- 
tive Christians, and know something of what the 
work of preaching will be. I long to engage in it. 
I trust that the Lord will help me, that I maj^- ere 
many months do something in the way of making 
known the Gospel. May He guide in all this." 

He thus writes to the Rev. Justin K. Richardson: 

" Toungoo, Burmah, June 6£A, 1872. 
" Dear Brother Richardsok : Hearing 
through Bro. Cross' letters to his parents that you 
have had under consideration the question as to 
your duty to come to the heathen, and remember- 
ing what you said to us at Newton before we came 
away, I take the liberty to write you a few (?) 
lines. I want the Lord to direct you and believe 
that he will — but I know not but he may use 
even these words of mine for that purpose, and so 
I write. 



Plea for a Burman Missionary. 179 

" I have understood that your choice lies between 
the field where you have been laboring, and in 
which you are much interested — and the mission- 
ary field. I have no doubt you are much needed 
in that home field, and that the Lord would use 
you for good there ; but I wish I could make 
known to you the extent and destitution of the 
field of labor here. I would like to call your 
attention to the Toungoo Burman department, 
and ask you to think and pray over it. 

" It is a broad field. The Sitang valley stretches 
north and south hundreds of miles (we are one 
hundred and fifty to two hundred above the mouth) 
and in this valley I suppose it is within limits to 
say that there are hundreds on hundreds of Burmese 
villages, with three or four cities of respectable size. 
Of the cities, Toungoo itself numbers, I think, about 
twenty-five thousand people, and the population 
of the others I do not knoAV. Again, it is a needy 
field. You do not need that I should tell you 
this ; and yet when one goes into the idol houses, 
and sees the people bowing down and praying to 
the stiff, staring idols ; when one sees the hundreds 
of pagodas in the cities and along the river-banks 
and ' on every high hill,' all speaking of heathen- 
ism, and all works of merit by which some self- 
righteous man hopes to counterbalance a part of 
his sins ; and when one sees the deep moral (as 
well as spiritual) degradation of the people, he 



180 A Consecrated Life. 

feels the need of the people as was hardly possible 
before. 

"O, that the Christians of America — the Bap- 
tist churches throughout the land — felt the press- 
ing wants of Burmah, and of the heathen every- 
where ! 

" Again, it is an open field. I suppose there is 
not one out of these hundreds of villages where a 
Burmese-speaking person might not enter and 
preach the Gospel without hindrance ; and in 
most of them he would be respectfully listened 
to." 

(Journal.) " Sunday, June 9th. — I attempt to 
preach from the words ' Kept by the power of God 
through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed 
in the last time.' How encouraging the reflection 
that the glorious time is coming when we shall be 
freed from all sin, and brought into eternal and 
most intimate union with God." 

"June 11th. — For the first time I lead the Shan 
evening prayer-meeting, confining my attempts how 
ever to giving out the hymn, reading the Scriptures, 
and making very brief remarks. I expect to take 
my turn regularly hereafter. I do so long to talk 
freely with the people. Well, I shall doubtless be 
able sometime, but it comes slowly." 

"June 30th. — I try to preach in English from 
the words, ' Whom, having not seen, ye love ; in 
whom though now,' etc., 1 Pet. i : 8, 9. Hear with 



Prevalent Sickness. 181 

joy of the appointment of a new missionary to labor 
in Burmah, and hope we may have other accessions. 

" During the month several times, in the absence 
of the Shan teacher, I open the Shan school with 
Scripture reading and prayer. They were but 
broken sentences, but I trust the Lord heard them." 

"July 1st. — This month, the routine of study 
and labor is somewhat interrupted by prevalent 
illness. In the early part of the month Bro. Cush- 
ing's child is so ill that much of the time his life is 
despaired of. Shans on the compound and in the 
school are ill with various diseases. My Shan 
teacher is called away by the illness of relatives. 
In addition to the lighter trials we are visited by 
the c dengue.' Sometimes we learn in the night 
that some one on Bro. Bunker's compound is vio- 
lently cramped in the dengue, and if possible, assis- 
tance must be rendered. Meanwhile, one by one, 
the inhabitants of our compound and house are 
taken down by the same disease. Fortunately, 
though some of the cases are very painful, none 
are dangerous. Bro. Cushing is taken down the 
latter part of the month. I, as yet, escape, though 
I feel a few twinges that may be due to the same 
cause. A thorough knowledge of medicine would 
be of wonderful value. One is obliged to be a 
doctor, whether he knows anything about it or not. 
I am trying to pick up what experience I can in 
this line." 

Some heathen Shans, not connected with the 



182 A Consecrated Life. 

mission, who were troubled with "divers com- 
plaints," came in from some of the adjacent villages 
and were staying on the compound for the pur- 
pose of being doctored. As Mr. Kelley did noth- 
ing in a loose, hap-hazard way, he studied their cases 
from the medical books, and treated them to the 
best of his ability. 

During this time of sickness on the compound, 
each individual had his attendance and care. Not 
satisfied with knowing the medicine that each 
needed, and sending it to them by others (for he well 
knew that the native character needs yet to learn 
how to care for their sick), he would go himself, 
see how they were, and with brotherly tenderness 
administer the medicine ; at the same time cheer- 
ing them with friendly converse, while with two- 
fold power he led them to look to the great Physi- 
cian, who alone could cure their spiritual diseases. 
His assiduous attentions to them elicited the re- 
mark, " When Bro. Kelley has been in Burmah a 
few years, he won't be so tender of the natives." 

To his parents : 

" Toungoo, July 26th, 1872. 
"I have heard of but one fatal case of the dengue 
in Toungoo. This was a pupil in the English and 
Burmese school. His father — a Burman of good 
intelligence and great influence, is an excluded 
member of the church here. Intellectually, he be- 



Prayer-meeting in a Burman House. 183 

lieves the Gospel, and despises the religion of 
Gaudama, and he does not hesitate to let people 
know his opinions ; but he is not willing to renounce 
his sins, and in self-denial follow Christ. He 
seemed to be much moved by the death of his son, 
said he believed it a warning of God to him, and 
desired to talk with the teachers and native Chris- 
tians. 

"He wished his son to have Christian burial 
but was prevented by the vehement opposition of 
his relatives. However, notwithstanding the oppo- 
sition which he encountered, he made preparations 
for a prayer-meeting in the house the evening be- 
fore the burial. 

" We, with the native preachers, and some of the 
school-boys, went over. We found, I should think, 
one hundred Burmans, men and women, sitting 
on the mats waiting for us. After the reading of 
the Scriptures, the native preachers talked and 
prayed, occasionally singing a hymn. The audi- 
ence listened very respectfully. As the exercises 
were in Burmese, of course I could not understand 
what was said ; but I could see that a rare oppor- 
tunity was presented for preaching the Gospel. I 
think it was improved. One of the preachers had 
also been there throughout the day, conversing 
with the people. 

" There are some in the school that T hope may 
become disciples. Remember us in your prayers." 



184 A Consecrated Life. 

(Journal.) "July 28th. — Preached in English 
from the miracle in the last of John iv." 

To Mrs. Blackadar and daughter : 

" Toungoo, Aug. 8th, 1872. 

" Dear Mother and Sister : Have you heard 
of the dengue ? It is otherwise called the broken- 
bone fever — a very appropriate name, I can assure 
you. A week ago last Monday, Jennie was at- 
tacked by it. She had a very high fever for a day 

or two Aug. 1st., I came down ; the 

fever lasted forty-eight hours; but the intense 
breaking .pain in the bones of the back, during the 
first day and night, was fearful. We are still 
troubled by the rheumatic pains in the limbs and 
joints, the effects of the disease ; but with us these 
pains are comparatively light, and I again com- 
mence work. 

" Two young men of the school have applied for 
baptism. I hope it is God's own work in them, 
and I feel that we have so much reason to be 
thankful for them. A week ago they came in 
with one of the native preachers, who said they 
wished to talk with me. I hoped they had good 
news to tell, yet hardly dared hope it. They 
gave me a note to read, the import of which was 
the expression of their belief in Christ and their 
desire to be received as disciples. They seemed to 
understand the truth, and to know what they were 



Shan Converts. 185 

doing, as also to be willing to profess Christ at all 
hazards. It is the Lord's work. Praise be to him 
for it. We have received no letters yet from Arch 
or Willev. But we think of them, and pray for 
them. 

" I did hope Mr. Eichardson might conclude to 
come out this year, and take the needy Burman 
field at Toungoo ; but latest accounts we have are 
against it. 

" Our books, hats, shoes, etc., are getting mouldy 
in these rains. Love to all. Please write often. 
" Affectionately your son and brother, 

"E. D. Kelley." 

It was one of the happiest experiences in Mr. 
Kelley's missionary life, when he found that there 
were Shan inquirers after a personal salvation. 
For this he had been earnestly praying. The 
morning on which he learned from Sang Sou and 
Ing Tah of their trust in Christ, he went into an 
inner room, where his wife was, and, with tears of 
joy in his eyes announced the fact, adding : " Let 
us kneel and thank God." It was a prayer of 
tender gratitude. 

" Toungoo, Burmah, Aug. l§th, 1872. 

" Dear Parents : We have now one matter 
of special importance to write about : there are 
Shan inquirers! 

" A little more than two months ago, two young 



186 A Consecrated Life. 

men came to join the school. They live in a Shan 
village about six miles from here ; but they have 
not been there long, having recently come down 
from the Shan country. Owing to this latter fact, 
they had heard little or nothing about the Gospel, 
before coming here to school. They have done 
well in their studies, and in all the meetings they 
were respectful and attentive. When asked about 
the religion of Christ, they said that they thought 
it was good, but wished to study it, and know 
more about it. The Shan teacher, Toon La, has 
been very faithful with them ; and out of school 
hours they have often been studying the Scrip- 
tures with him. The last day of July they came 
up with one of the native preachers and desired to 
talk with me. They brought a little note which 
they had written, and which I enclose. This note 
expressed their hope that the grace of God had 
entered their hearts a little, and their belief of the 
truth of the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ ; 
and also their wish to be baptized and received as 
disciples. Their cases are at least very encourag- 
ing. Of course men who, two or three months ago, 
were heathen, cannot yet be expected to under- 
stand fully all things connected with the Gospel ; 
but we hope, as they say, that the grace of God 
has entered their hearts a little. 

" Yesterdajr they came up desiring again to talk 
with me, and bringing another note of somewhat 
similar import. This time they were accompanied 



Inquirers. 187 

by two others. Of these, one is a young man 
who, I think, has some sense of his sins, a convic- 
tion of the truth of the Gospel, and a desire to find 
deliverance through Christ. I hope he may 
understand the subject more fully than he does 
now, and that he may experience the grace of 
God in his heart. 

" The other man is my syce, or pony keeper ; 
his little girl is in our school. I hope he is sincere 
in the expression of his desire to be a Christian. 
He seems to know little of the work of Christ, or 
of his own utter inability to do right in his own 
strength. I hope the Lord may make them his. 

" Besides these four there is another applicant 
for baptism; the newly-married wife of the old 
preacher Ko En. He is the Burmese preacher, 
and speaks only a little Shan, but his wife is a 
Shan. 

" Please remember us in your prayers, and pray 
that the Lord will guide these inquirers, and in- 
crease their numbers. We hope that the church 
will also pray for us and for these Shans. 

"This letter is written with a Shan pen, a fern, 
or brake-stem, sharpened like a quill pen. They 
write very smoothly and easily, though, as you see, 
not very fine." 

Here, entertaining the heathen who come to the 
mission-house is quite an important part of the 
mission-work ; and thus it was in Mr. Kelley's 
experience. As he sat daily with his teacher, 



188 A Consecrated Life. 

busily engaged on the language, sometimes his 
attention would be attracted, through the open 
window, to a company of Shans, who had entered 
the compound by the north gate, and were coming 
up the pathway, single file as usual. And, ascend- 
ing the verandah, thej^ would pass along in front 
of the open door, where they were greeted cor- 
dially, and asked to come in. Some, who seemed 
not so bashful as the others, would express their 
pleasure at what they saw ; taking in at a glance 
the strange sight of tables, chairs, pictures, etc. ; 
and two white people with strange dress. 

When asked to be seated, according to their 
custom, they would take a seat on the floor ; and, 
with apparent satisfaction at what they saw, would 
commence to ask a variety of questions. 

Frequently there were those who had just come 
down from the Shan country, and had never before 
heard of the eternal God. Mr. Kelley would sit 
down beside them, and endeavor to tell them the 
story of the cross ; beginning, however, with the 
creation of the world. On these occasions, when 
first told of Jesus, not infrequently the inquiry 
was : " Where does he live ? " "I never heard of 
him once." 

After listening to the declaration that if they 
would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and would 
put their trust in him, they should be saved from 
their sins, sometimes the earnest reply was : " Good 



Mission Work. 189 

news, very liappy (news) ; I wish to hear more 
about it, and understand it." 

To one of the Toungoo missionaries, who had 
sent to him some heathen Shans, Mr. Kelley thus 
writes, under date : 

" July 26th. 

" I have tried to talk with the Shans whom you 
sent over. They are, I find, altogether strangers 
to the idea of an eternal God, and to the doctrines 
of the Gospel. I have tried to set before them 
the way of salvation, and also to teach them, that 
they were to accept Jesus, not for the sake of 
earthly gain, but for the salvation from sin which 
their souls need. I hope they may become disci- 
ples ; but think they will need to hear more of the 
truth, before they can intelligently and sincerely 
accept the religion of the Saviour. 

" I hope we may see them again, and especially 
that they may have many opportunities of hearing 
the native preachers. Yours sincerely, 



" E. D. Kelley." 



To his parents : 



" Toungoo, Aug. 3Qt7i, 1872. 

"The Shan inquirers continue about the same as 

before. I have tried to talk some with my Shan 

teacher. He is a determined Buddhist. The 

moral law which Gaudama gave is nearly the same 



190 A Consecrated Life. 

as the Christian, though pertaining to open acts, 
rather than to the state of the heart. In reference 
to this law, my teacher would say, with the young 
man of the Gospel : ■ All these things have I kept 
from my youth up.' On this keeping of the law 
he relies. By his moral life, and by his merito- 
rious works, such as offering to the priests, sub- 
scribing to Buddhist festivals, etc., he hopes to 
gain the salvation to which he looks forward ; t. e., 
he hopes, that, in the age to come, he will be a little 
more advanced than now ; and, living well in that 
age, he will still be a little better off. And so on, 
gaining little by little, age after age, until, after 
innumerable years, after untold ages, having passed 
through all the forms of existence, and having 
expiated his sins by his sufferings, and perhaps by 
enduring the torments of many hells, he shall 
come to be a God, and take nigban — i. e., cease 
to know or feel, to enjoy or to suffer. Ah, how cap- • 
tivating to the depraved human heart is the idea 
of working out one's salvation by one's own right- 
eousness ! " 

One writer says of this religion : 

" Buddhism, in its moral precepts, is perhaps the 
best religion ever invented by man. The difficulty 
is, its entire basis is false. It is a religion of 
Atheism. Instead of a heavenly Father forgiving 
sin, and filial service from a pure heart, as the 
effect of love — it presents nothing to love, for its 



Buddhism. 191 

Deity is dead ; nothing as the ultimate object of 
action but self ; and nothing for man's highest and 
holiest ambition, but annihilation. 

" Their doctrine of merit leaves no place for 
holiness, and destroys gratitude, either to God or 
man. 

" Their system of balancing evil with good, 
reduces all sin to a thing of little importance." * 

If a Buddhist realizes his sin, his Pe-ta-gat 
(Buddhist Scriptures) point him, not to One who 
" taketh away the sins of the world," but it tells 
him that the penalty follows the sin, as surely as 
the wheels of the cart follow the footsteps of the 
ox. 

In view of death, his religion brings him no 
comforting assurances; it may be that he is 
terrified at the possibility of soon passing into 
some inferior animal, or even a reptile, if he has 
neglected to accumulate merit. 

* Life of Mrs. A. Judson. 



CHAPTER X. 

WE have the following from the pen of Mr. 
Kelley, in regard to the climate : 

" We have two seasons, the wet and the dry. We 
are now (Aug. 30) in the latter part of the wet 
season. In a month or two the dry season will 
begin, and last till about May next. In regard to 
the heat and cold, it is as follows. We are in the 
tropics here, but are north of the equator ; conse- 
quently, as at home, the coldest weather is from 
December to January, and the sun is hottest from 
June to August. Were there nothing to interfere 
with its heat, the summer months would be terrible 
indeed. But, by a wise provision of providence, 
the summer is also the rainy season. 

" In March there are usually a few light show- 
ers, which, as they occur at the same time that the 
192 



The Climate. 193 

mango trees are in blossom, are called the mango 
showers. With this exception, I suppose there is 
rarely, if ever, a year in which a single shower of 
rain falls in Burmah, from November till May. 

" In May the rains begin, being only occasional 
at first ; but, by the end of June, settling down 
into steady rainy weather. Then, for some three 
months, it rains nearly every day. Sometimes it 
pours hard all day ; again, there is a fine drizzle, 
lasting the day ; oftener there is a brisk shower at 
morning or evening, or two or three times during 
the day, and the rest of the day it is cloudy. 

" Occasionally we have a day free from rain. 
Some years much more rain falls than at others. 

"Books, clothes, etc., mould; needles, pocket- 
knives, watches, etc., are injured or spoiled by 
rust. Articles made of leather very soon get cov- 
ered with mould. 

" My book-case was made very tight on purpose 
to keep out moisture ; but very many of the books 
in it are well-covered with mould. Calf bindings, 
especially, mould very quickly. If a book lies 
unused on the table for a month or two, it moulds. 

" If a home-style hat is laid aside for a day or 
two, the oiled silk in it is covered with mould. 

" After these three months of steady rain, again 
there is about a month of rather unsettled weather, 
and then the rain is done for the year. You can 
easily imagine what an effect these rains have on 
the temperature. At home, in the midst of the 



194 A Consecrated Life. 

dog-days, if an east rain sets in for three or four 
days, it becomes rather chilly. So here, what 
otherwise would be fearfully hot, becomes quite 
comfortably cool. If the sun does get out for a 
day or two, it comes down with great power ; and 
we who have not been long in Burmah, again sigh 
for rain. But otherwise, it is nearly as cool as in 
the cool season. 

" The hot weather here is, therefore, just before 
and just after the rains. March and April before, 
and most of October with November after; but the 
months before the rains are the hottest. The 
ground is parched by the long drought, the vege- 
tation is dry and dusty, and the air is smoky. 

" A burning heat comes down from the sun, and 
a stifling heat comes up from the ground. This 
lasts or rather increases until the beginning of the 
rains; the first showers of which cool off the heated 
ground, clear the air, and give new life to the veg- 
etation. The beginning of the rains is the time 
for planting and sowing. 

" During the dry season, the north-east monsoon, 
or trade-wind prevails ; i. e., there is a light, steady 
breeze from the north-east. During the rains, the 
south-west monsoon prevails ; i. 6., there is a regu- 
lar south-west wind. This wind is stronger than 
the north-east trade-wind. At the beginning and 
at the close of the rains the wind is variable. At 
these times,also, there are severe storms accompanied 
by thunder and lightning. This is the only period 



Adding to the Church. 195 

of unsafe navigation ; for, at this time, those revolv- 
ing hurricanes, called cj^clones, sweep the ocean. 
The steamer in which we came from Calcutta 
to Rangoon is reported to have gone down with 
all on board, in a cyclone, about the end of June 
last," 

To his parents : 

" Toungoo, Sept. 3d, 1872. 

" Last Sunday we had a very good day indeed. 
The day before, the church-meeting was held; 
lasting over three hours. Three Shan inquirers 
related their experiences and applied for baptism. 
Two of them were received — the two of whom I 
spoke most hopefully in the former letter. In the 
case of the other one, as there was not so much 
evidence that his heart has been changed, he was 
advised to wait for a month, and meanwhile study 
the Scriptures, and seek to know the truth more 
fully. 

" Besides these, there was a Burman received 
into the church, for whom we hope much. He was 
baptized* (by Mr. Bixby) years ago, but afterwards 
excluded for taking an additional wife. 

" Sunday morning the two Shans were baptized. 
In the afternoon, after listening to an excellent 
sermon in Shan, the church partook of the Lord's 
Supper; the two Shans and this Burman being 
with us for the first time ; it was therefore a happy 
day for us. 



196 A Consecrated Life. 

" Monday evening Moung Waing had a prayer- 
meeting at his house, at which there was a good 
attendance, and the heathen listened attentively. 

" There is a young Burman, a captain of the 
police, for whom there seems special reason to hope. 
He was at this meeting, and not only listened well, 
but exhorted others. There are good openings in 
various directions, indications that the leaven of 
the Gospel is working, Still, the power of God 
only can follow up these openings, and our faith 
must be, not in external appearances, nor in human 
means, but in God. 

" Pray that the Lord may carry on his work 
here, and that the blessings which we have received 
may be but the beginning of a still greater and 
more extensive work. Remember us kindly to 
all our friends." 

The following is an extract from a letter to the 
Board : 

" Toungoo, Sept. 6th, 1872. 
" You have probably heard from Bro/Cushing 
something regarding Moung Waing, who was ex- 
cluded from the church years ago. He has not 
hesitated to express his convictions of the truths 
of Christianity, even while confessedly his life was 
not in accordance with it. The death of his son 
lately, seemed to touch his heart ; and ever since, 



Moung Waing. 197 

he has attended the meetings, and sought to know 
the truth more fully. 

" Ko En, the Burmese preacher, has been much 
with him. Last Saturday he came into the church 
meeting, and expressed his penitence for his former 
sin, and his desire to be again received among the 
people of Christ. After an examination of his pres- 
ent views and feelings, we were all of the opinion 
that he ought to be received ; and he was there- 
fore restored to the fellowship of the church. 

" He is a man of much influence in the commu- 
nity ; and apparently he is determined to use that 
influence for the Gospel. A weekly prayer-meet- 
ing has been established at his house, and access 
is thus gained to some Burmans who before were 
not reached. One of these is apparently a some- 
what hopeful inquirer." 

(Journal.) " Sept. 1st to 80th. — Spent the 
month in study and general work as usual. The 
first day of the month the two Shans, Sang Sou 
and Ing Tah were baptized; the former by Bro. 
dishing, and the latter by myself. Preached in 
English twice during the month. The last Sun- 
day in the month, Sept. 29th, I preached for the 
first time in Shan, having selected for the text 
Matt, xi : 28 ; ' Come unto me all ye that labor and 
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest 9 ." 

The fact that he was able to preach in Shan, 
after so short a time of study on the language, was 
considered somewhat remarkable. 



198 A Consecrated Life. 

His former class-mate, Rev. Mr. Goodell of 
Bassein, whose work was in the Pwo Karen lan- 
guage, after hearing of it thus playfully writes him : 

" I will not take time to write a long letter, but 
just congratulate you on your first ' preach,' and 
suggest that if you are entirely at home in Shan, 
and can post up in Pwo, for a week or two, we will 
be happy to have you conduct service for us." 

In an extract from one of his letters to the Board 
we find the following in regard to the school : 

" Toungoo, Oct. 12th, 1872. 
" I have to report that we have had on the whole 
quite a pleasant session of the Shan school, clos- 
ing this day. Of course, we value the school 
mainly as an evangelizing agency ; but whatever 
is worth doing, is worth doing well. And we shall 
try to make the school so valuable, educationally, 
that if possible we may secure a steady increase of 
numbers, and so bring more within reach of the 
truth." 

(Journal.) " Sunday, Oct. 20th. — This morn- 
ing I again preached in Shan, from the text 4 Be- 
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be 
saved.' 

" Also preached this evening in English from 
the words 'Thy kingdom come.' " 



Enjoyment in the Work. 199 

And now that his tongue was unloosed in the 
language of the people whom he had come to 
serve, he frequently gave utterance to his thank- 
fulness to God for permitting him to engage in 
this glorious work; while the expression of his 
desires was : 

" In the desert let me labor ; 

On the mountains let me tell 

How he died — the blessed Saviour — 

To redeem a world from hell." 

And, while endeavoring to point the heathen to 
the only true God and Saviour, his own spiritual 
life was growing deeper and richer. The fruits of 
a life that was hid with Christ in God were appar- 
ent to all that were associated with him. 

On the 23d of Oct., he, with Mrs. Kelley, left 
Toungoo to attend the Burmah Baptist Conven- 
tion, which was to convene at Rangoon. While 
the journey thither was somewhat uncomfortable, 
owing to the extreme heat and the numerous in- 
sects, it was, nevertheless, a very pleasant one. 

Their boat was well filled, for they were accompa- 
nied by some Shan Christians, a Burmese preacher, 
some Karen preachers, a Shan heathen family, a 
Hindoo cook, and four Burmese boatmen. 

During this journey on the Sitang, the time was 
improved daily by study on the language and 
social converse with the natives. Each evening, 
at worship, could be heard in Shan the sweet words 



200 A Consecrated Life. 

" Coine to Jesus," or " To-day the Saviour calls," 
etc., while on board Dr. Cross' boat, usually at the 
same time, similar hymns were being sung in Karen. 
Delightful, indeed, to the lover of Jesus, were such 
sounds amid the surrounding heathen darkness of 
the village, at which they were moored for the 
night. But alas, for these benighted Burmans and 
Shans, who are still living under the power of 
heathenism and idoltary, ignorant of the glorious 
fact that the Gospel feast is now ready, and all 
that will may partake ! 

While on the way Mr. Kelley pens the following : 

" Shwaygyeen, Oct. 26th, 1872. 

" Dear Parents : It has been some time since 
I wrote to you ; and it has been a long time since 
we heard from you. We hope a letter is now pas- 
sing us on the way up the river, and if so, we may 
get it in Rangoon in another week or two. . . 

" I am very far from having a thorough acquaint- 
ance with the Shan language; still, I can now, 
through the goodness of God, make myself under- 
stood, and can understand nearly all that is said. 
There is now, as far as the language is concerned, 
no reason why I should not go and preach wher- 
ever Shans are to be found. I have great reason 
to be thankful that the Lord has directed me and 
blessed me in the study of the language ; and now 
I need to pray especially that he will bless me in 
the use of what I know of it. 



To his Parents. 201 

" We are now on the way to the Convention. 
Dr. Cross and his wife are in one native boat, Jen- 
nie and I in another, Br'n Bunker and Cushing 
in a third. The boats have been brought up the 
branch which here joins the Sitang, and we are now 
fastened at the foot of the bluff on which Bro. 
Harris' house is situated. 

"Later. — We have all come up to Bro. Harris' 
house, and are spending the time very pleasantly. 
Bro. Cross and I are writing, and the rest are talk- 
ing, etc. The house is exceedingly breezy — a 
delightful change from the close boat, and also 
from our close rooms at Toungoo. 

"If everything is favorable we shall probably 
reach Rangoon Thursday or Friday next. We ex- 
pect to come back immediately after the Conven- 
tion, by the first high 1 tide succeeding that by 
which we go down. Monday next, Bro. Cushing 
and I expect to go and visit one or two Shan vil- 
lages near here." 

" Rangoon, Sat. Eve, Nov. 2d. 

"We arrived here yesterday, having come down 
the river much more rapidly, of course, than we 
could go up. To come into Rangoon, to see the 
ships in the harbor, and to see the streets bordered 
by other than native houses, seems like revisiting 
the world. 

" According to a previous invitation, we came 
from the boat directly to Dr. Stevens' house. The 



202 A Consecrated Life. 

Toungoo missionaries are all here, and also Miss 
Higby of Bassein. Dr. and Mrs. Stevens are both 
exceedingly kind, and they make it very pleasant 
for all who are with them. We feel at home with 
them at once. In^ the evening we went over to 
Mr. Colburn's to see the friends who had just ar- 
rived before us. We found among others Mr. 
Crawley and Br'n Hopkinson and Goodell, with 
their wives. Mr. Crawley is in poor health, the 
ill effects of jungle fever. This past year nearly 
forty converts from heathenism have been bap- 
tized in his field of labor. Forty Burmese converts 
at one station is a most encouraging incident. 

u Our meeting last evening with the Goodells 
and Hopkinsons was, you may be sure, a joyful meet- 
ing. Mrs. Hopkinson said that seeing us again 
reminded her of that storm on the Atlantic (we 
spent the night all in one room, and the circum- 
stances I don't think any of us will soon forget), 
and Mrs. Goodell said, seeing us reminded her of 
our wedding, that being the last time that they 
had seen us. Bro. Hopkinson left us in London; 
to Bro. Goodell we had said farewell in America. Of 
course we did not have half time enough to speak 
of the many things we had to talk about. 

" To-day we have been busy in the shops and 
bazaars, making preparations for the coming year. 

"I am making some special provision for our 
trip up to the Shan country. 

" The missionaries who are on their way out via 



Shtvay-Dagong. 203 

England, are expected here before the Convention 
closes, and we shall welcome them gladly." 

Here in Rangoon is to be seen the great pagoda, 
called by the natives the god Shway-Dagong. " It 
stands on a hill which commands an extensive 
and beautiful view of the surrounding country. 
Its height is three hundred and twenty feet ; and 
the area on which it is built is eight hundred feet 
square. On this area it is surrounded by numer- 
ous smaller pagodas, zayats or rest-houses, and 
idol-houses filled with images of various sizes, the 
larger of brick and the smaller of alabaster ; some 
standing, the larger number in the usual sitting 
position, with legs crossed. 

"Annually thousands of pilgrims visit it from 
every part of Burmah, and from the distant Shan 
States. As they approach Rangoon, and reach 
some favored spot, whence, though miles away, its 
towering spire can be seen, at once, whether in 
boats or on foot, with exclamations of delight, 
raising their hands to their foreheads, they devoutly 
prostrate themselves before it. And when, on 
reaching the city, and ascending the steps, emerg- 
ing from the roof which had covered them in the 
ascent, they come suddenly into full view of the ma- 
jestic pile, its entire gilded surface glittering in the 
sun, and its spire piercing the sky, they are struck 
with the profoundest awe and admiration ; and, 
prostrating themselves many times, and repeating 



204 A Consecrated Life. 

many prayers, sometimes even kissing the ground 
on which they kneel, they deposit their offerings, 
and confidently expect a great reward in the life 
to come."* 

Here, especially on "worship days," maybe seen 
a large concourse of people, bringing their offerings, 
" the old man, his fruit and rice ; and the young 
girl her flowers," which they present with their 
petitions — some on bended knees, while others are 
prostrate before these gods of ivood and stone. 

During this sojourn in Rangoon, Mr. Kelley and 
one of the Shan Christians made some visits here 
in the early mornings ; as it was an excellent place 
to meet the people, and have religious conversa- 
tion ; and to distribute tracts to the villagers who 
had come here to worship. 

(Journal.) " Rangoon, Sunday, Nov. 17th. — 
(At the close of the Convention.) This evening 
I preached in English, from the text in 1 Peter 
i : 8, 9, ' Whom having not seen, ye love ; in 
whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, 
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory ; 
receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation 
of your souls.' " 

After his return to Toungoo he writes the follow- 
ing to his parents : 

" Toungoo, Dec. 7th, 1872. 
" We reached here Tuesday morning — between 

*By Rev. E. A. Stevens, D. D. 



To his Parents. 205 

fourteen and fifteen days from Rangoon. The 
relief in changing from our cramped position in 

the boat is very great It does seem so 

good to be back in our home again — though, as 
far as I am concerned, it is but for a few days. 

" Next Tuesday morning Bro. Cushing and I 
expect to start on our trip. Our backs will be 
turned on civilization for a while. We hope to go as 
far as Mon£, and return by a different route. There 
will be fourteen or fifteen of us in all, two Shan 
preachers and perhaps others. Also some Shan 
coolies to carry our bedding, cooking utensils, etc., 
also Shan tracts and Gospels for distribution. 

"We expect to sleep in zayats and on the 
ground ; but I have a rubber blanket which will 
be good protection against the damp earth. We 
expect to be gone two months, perhaps more. 
You need not, therefore, expect to hear from me 
again for a long time. 

" If I have an opportunity I shall send a letter 
or two to Jennie by some Shan caravan ; but it is 
not improbable that she may not hear a word from 
me all the time I am gone. 

" Four of the men who accompany us are Chris- 
tians; the rest are heathen. One of these four 
has to-day been received by the church for bap- 
tism, and is to be baptized to-morrow. He is one 
of the inquirers of whom I wrote you before. I 
hope and trust that the Lord's presence will be 
with us, and that the Gospel may be faithfully 



206 A Consecrated Life. 

preached. May God grant it, and may he add his 
blessing. I need especially a deeper consecration 
to God in all that I do. O, that his Spirit may 
rest upon me. 

" Accept much love from us both." 

To the church at Ann Arbor, Mich. : 

" Toungoo, Burmah, Dec. 7th, 1872. 

"Deab Friends and Brethren in Christ: 
Perhaps a few words from your absent and distant 
brother may not be without interest, though writ- 
ten in haste, and containing no information of a 
striking character. As it will probably be two or 
three months before I shall again have an opportu- 
nity of writing to you, I write a few words at 
present, regarding our work and present situation. 

" When I came out, perhaps you remember that 
it was with the expectation of spending a large 
portion of my time in the work of translation. 
Bro. Cushing's serious illness was the immediate 
cause of my appointment to the Shan field. But, 
on my arrival here, I found him comparatively 
restored to health. Happily, therefore, we have 
now two laborers in the Shan department. As 
Bro. Cushing has already begun the work of trans- 
lation, and has special qualifications for that work, 
it seems but proper that he should go on with that 
work, and that I should labor in other but no less 



To the Church at Ann Arbor. 207 

important ways We have both tried 

to preach as we have had opportunity. 

" The rainy season, which is now past, is the 
proper time for book and school work ; and the 
dry season the best time for travelling and preach- 
ing among the heathen. During the past rainy 
season, our little school, numbering twenty-five 
pupils on the roll, made tolerable progress — their 
studies being all elementary. I think I wrote you 
something of the school ; and also of the most 
cheering result yet apparent ; viz., the baptism of 
the two older pupils. Coming, as they did, without 
any knowledge of the truth, or even of the exist- 
ence of God, renouncing heathenism so fully, and 
giving such apparent good evidence of renewed 
hearts, we could not but be encouraged and thank- 
ful. Thus far they have run well. One of them 
went down with us to the Convention at Rangoon. 
I think the sight of so many disciples together 
had a good influence on him. He told me after- 
wards about the annual sermon in Burmese ; from 
II. Cor. xi: 23-28, which, he told me, brought the 
tears to his eyes. He is a young man of an un- 
usually good mind and quick perceptions ; and if it 
be the Lord's will, I pray that he may be made 
an earnest and useful worker in the cause. He has 
expressed his desire to study and to become a preach- 
er of the truth to his countrymen. If there seems 
evidence that the Lord has called him to preach, 
we shall rejoice in it. At Rangoon, he made what 



208 A Consecrated Life. 

might be called his first visit to the outside world. 
He then, for the first time, saw a steamboat or 
even a ship. About a year since he first came 
down from the Shan mountains. He accompanies 
us in our proposed trip to Shanland. 

"The other young man, who was baptized at 
the same time, has also been a great encourage- 
ment to us. He has manifested more deep relig- 
ious feeling, I think, than the one first mentioned. 
He also proposed to go with us on our Shan 
journey, but is prevented by prostration with 
fever, from which he is now recovering. 

".A third member of the school is to be baptized 
to-morrow. He does not hesitate to profess Christ 
before his heathen friends, and we hope he is a 
subject of renewing grace. 

" These are our encouragements. We have also 
unpleasant things to contend with. . . . 

" I speak of encouragements and discourage- 
ments ; but, after all, the great encouragement is the 
Almighty God under whose command we are work- 
ing, whose strength sustains us, and whose prom- 
ises cheer us ; and in this view there are no 
discouragements. ' If God be for us, who can be 
against us ? ' 

" In our Shan trip we take with us several coolie 
loads of tracts and Gospels for distribution, and 
desire to preach as we have opportunity. 

" Were the way open, I should like very much 
to go to Mone or some similar Shan city to live, 



To the Church at Ann Arbor. 209 

leaving Bro. Cushing to go on with the book- 
work in the safer and more accessible station of 
Toungoo. 

" In another letter I spoke of my purpose to 
devote fifty dollars of the past year's salary to the 
Karen College. Having mentioned the purpose, 
I am now in duty bound to confess the non-fulfil- 
ment of it. The appropriations for payment of 
native preachers and for school also proved insuf- 
ficient, and we made up the balance among our- 
selves here.* 

" I, nevertheless, still cherish a deep interest in the 
proposed college, and hope yet to be able to devote 
some portion of my substance to it. 

" My time is so limited that I can not well 
write any of you individually, but should be very 
glad to receive letters from any of the brethren at 
any time ; and hope, if agreeable to you, to write 
occasionally, and send any information that may 
be of special interest regarding the work. 

" Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may 
have free course and be glorified. 

" Your brother in Christ, 
"E.D. Kelley." 

(Journal.) " Sunday, Dee. 8th. — This morn- 
ing I preached in Shan, on the text, s Thy kingdom 



*In a letter to Trea. Smith, Mr. Kelley said, " I kept the school on some time 
after the school money expired, at my own expense." 



210 A Consecrated Life. 

On that morning the little church were made 
happy in receiving another convert from heathen- 
ism. At an early hour they gathered on the bank 
of the Sitang river, where, with Scripture reading, 
and songs of praise and prayer, in the presence of 
the heathen, who looked curiously on, Sau Nah, 
the Shan Christian, was baptized. They then re- 
paired to the town chapel, where Mr. Kelley 
preached his last Shan sermon in Toungoo ; 
it was followed by the partaking of the Lord's 
Supper. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE country of the Tie family of which the 
Shans form a branch, extends from the Gulf 
of Siam on the south, to Assam on the north-west, 
and eastward from Burmah Proper to the Cambodia 
River. 

The portion of the Shan States, where this 
preaching tour was to be made, is under the 
dominion of the King of Burmah, therefore, it was 
necessary for Mr. Kelley and his associate to se- 
cure each a royal pass from the king, in order to 
travel in that country with safety. 

In the greater part of these Shan States, the in- 
habitants have not as yet heard that there is a 
living God — and the precious name of Jesus, the 
Saviour of mankind, is still an unknown name to 
them. The whole country is given to idolatry ! 

211 



212 A Consecrated Life. 

What a spectacle is here presented to Christ, 
and all the heavenly host, as, from the battlements 
of heaven they view this land of darkness — more 
than eighteen hundred years after his command to 
his disciples to " go into all the ivorld and preach 
the Grospel to every creature!" 

It was the plan of Mr. Kelley to move into one 
of these states the following year, if arrangements 
could be made to that effect. In connection with 
this scheme, he said to Mrs. Kelley, " If we will 
leave our missionary associates, and the comforts 
which we have even here in Toungoo, and will go 
and live in Mone, I believe God will greatly use us 
in the conversion of the Shans." Such sacrifices 
he longed to make in the joyful prospect of saving 
souls, who were groping in heathen darkness. 

Early on the morning of his departure he bows 
in prayer, for the last time with his wife, whom he 
commends to the care and keeping of Jesus, pray- 
ing, if it be his will, that he will keep them both in 
safety and bring them together soon again. 

The following is from his journal : 

" Tuesday, Dec. 10th, 1872. — This morning, soon 
after sunrise, Bro. Cushing and I started for our 
Shan trip. The company numbers sixteen in all ; 
besides ourselves there are two native preachers, 
eight coolies, two of whom are Christians, the two 
syces with our ponies, one other Shan follower, 
and the Madrasee cook. After bidding farewell to 
home, we started up the Ave road. The forenoon 



Experiences by the Way. 213 

was cloudy and quite cool ; we made four laks 
(eight miles) before breakfast, which we took at 
the Burmese village of Leh-toung-gyan. After a 
stop of an hour or two, we pushed on to Nal-yeh- 
dwin, seven laks from Toungoo. 

This place we reached early in the afternoon ; and 
after our coolies came up, we had dinner, and made 
arrangements for stopping for the night. I walked 
about half the distance to-day, and feel a little 
tired." 

"Wednesday, 11th. — We passed a not unpleas- 
ant night in the zayat, and I arose this morning 
much refreshed. Took a fine bath before light, ate 
breakfast, and we were again on the road. Made 
about the same distance to-day as yesterday, and 
stopped for the night at Sah-kak-yah." 

" Thursday, 12th. — Slept soundly last night and 
were off in good season this morning. To-day we 
travelled only about six laks, and stopped for the 
night at the guard station on the English frontier. 
As before, we have had a level, often sandy coun- 
try, the road passing through woods and rice fields." 

" Friday, 13th. — Again got a good start; and, 
ere long, passed the boundary pillar and entered 
the territory of the king of Burmah. About a 
mile farther brought us to the Burman guard-sta- 
tion, where our royal orders were examined ; and 
whence we again proceeded. Made about four 
laks this morning, and then stopped for a late 
breakfast. Since leaving Toungoo, we have not 



214 A Consecrated Life. 

infrequently met Slians going down to Toungoo 
and Rangoon ; though most of the people we see 
are Burmans. Quite a number of Burmans come 
to the zayat, where we stop, and listen to preaching 
and receive tracts. This afternoon we come on 
some two laks farther ; six in all to-day. I receive 
an involuntary bath, by reason of my pony's lying 
down in a tolerably deep pool of muddy water. 
Reached the Burman village of Pe-win, where we 
stop for the night." 

" Saturday, \AtTi. — This morning we hear con- 
firmation of reports heretofore received of a mad 
elephant, between here and Ningyan; and soon 
hear that he is in the jungle near us ; and, finally, 
that he is near the road, just ahead of us. He 
killed a man a few days since, pulling down a tree 
in which the man had taken refuge. Our line of 
march is less straggling than usual ; but we see 
nothing of the creature, and finally come in sight 
of Ningyan ; which we' enter, and take up our 
temporary residence in a zayat on the northern 
side of the city. We send our royal order to the 
Burman governor ; and are requested to call, after 
the governor returns from a visit to a pagoda 
which he is building. We call on Mr. Goldenberg, 
a timber merchant, for whom Bro. Cushing has 
papers, and by whom we send letters to Toungoo. 
As the governor does not arrive, we return home 
without seeing him, leaving a man to request him 
to excuse us from coming to-morrow. The zayats 



Interview with the Governor. 215 

near us are occupied by Slians; most of them just 
about returning to the Poungloung country. These 
Shans and many Burmans throng our zayat, and 
some of them listen very attentively indeed. 
Some of the Shans have heard something of the 
truth from their Karen neighbors, and desire to 
learn more, and to get books that they can read. 
Quite a number of books are here distributed." 

"Sunday, Dec. 15th. — As the governor again 
requests us to visit him, and fixes this morning as 
the time, Ave go over before breakfast. We enter 
the so-called palace, leave our slippers just inside 
the veranda, and, crossing a hall, enter the apart- 
ment in which the governor (Woon-douk-min) is 
seated. We sit down on a mat nearly in front of 
the one on which the governor is sitting, and Bro. 
Cushing engages in conversation with him. As I 
cannot speak Burmese, of course I cannot take 
part. The prince turns out some tea or coffee (I 
was unable to distinguish) of which we partake ; 
asks some questions and talks a little about ' the 
law.' He is somewhat opinionated, and evidently 
cares more to let us know what his law is than to 
hear ours. After returning and taking breakfast, 
Bro. Cushing and I set out to find a Shan village ; 
but the attempt is unsuccessful. 

"In the afternoon we have a large number of 
visitors. As last evening, some of the Shans listen 
very attentively, and stay to our evening service. 
They manifest unusual interest." 



216 A Consecrated Life. 

" Monday, lQth. — We make a very early start 
this morning, and a pretty good distance before 
we stop for breakfast. We go about seven laks in 
all, and stop for the night in a zayat in the jungle. 
About ten o'clock at night we are disturbed by 
the call of a tiger close by the zayat, who has 
evidently taken a fancy to pony flesh. Guns are 
discharged, but he prowls around all night, and 
the men get very little sleep. I take my turn on 
guard about half past three in the morning ; but 
we hear nothing more of him." 

" Tuesday, 11th. — We do not start on this 
morning until light. In the afternoon we reach 
the large Burman village of Bau-hlaing, and turn 
to the eastward, having made a change in our 
proposed route. We sleep at night in a zayat, near 
a Burman village about a mile from Bau-hlaing — a 
little aside, as we afterwards find, from our true 
road. Have come to-day six or six and a half laks. 
Have a pleasing view of the mountains ahead." 

" Wednesday, 18th. — Again start on this morn- 
ing, going first north, and then to the east. Break- 
fast in the jungle, on the banks of a clear, cool, 
beautiful mountain stream. Pass another Burman 
village, and then again strike the same stream, 
whose course we follow up, crossing the stream 
some twenty-five times in the course of some two 
miles. During this last two miles we make quite 
an ascent. The ride is cool and delightful, and 
we catch occasional views of the symmetrical and 



Journeying toward Shanland. 217 

beautiful mountains on either side. We sleep in 
the jungle, in a bamboo zayat, near the stream." 

. The following is an extract from one of his 
letters to Mrs. Kelley : 

"Zayat, near Ke-doung-gan, Dec. lQth, 1872. 

" . . . . Saturday last I gave the letter I 
had written, to Mr. Goldenberg, who expects to 
start for Toungoo to-day or to-morrow. As I may 
have a few minutes now before we start on for our 
afternoon march, I will begin another letter to 
you. 

" How I wish I could see you ,and be with you. 
My own other self, it seems so unnatural for us to 

be separated Well, dear, we must 

bear it ; the Lord will be with us, and it won't be 
so very long till we shall again be together. Be 
brave, darling, and trust in the Lord. 

"Both Saturday and Sunday we had many 
Burman and Shan visitors, who listened attentively, 
especially the Shans, and received books. Some 
of the Shans had heard from the Karens something 
of the truth, aud wished to hear more. It was 
very pleasant to see their interest, and to attempt 
to tell them of the only Saviour. Sunday morning 
we went to visit the Woon-douk-min, or Burmese 
governor. The provinces of Ningyan and Yeme- 
than are under his charge. The house (palace) 
was of teak, with a nicely thatched roof ; on the 
whole, rather inferior to ours in Toungoo, I should 



218 A Consecrated Life. 

say, except that it was a trifle larger ; and, by rea- 
son of a large court in front, was cooler and more 
airy. The floor was without mats, except those 
on which the governor was sitting and those spread 
for us. The governor is a - man of evidently 
rather more than usual ability; but, like most 
Burmese officials, ignorant of things outside of 
Burmah; and with an exalted idea of his own 
intelligence and importance. He preferred to 
preach rather than listen, and evidently considered 
that we could teach him nothing ; and if we were 
wise we would listen to him, and accept what 
came from a man of his position and intelli- 
gence 

" I have had a fine bath every morning before 
light, having the light of the moon now to help 
me. 

" This morning we were up some time before 
light, and I walked perhaps eight miles before 
breakfast. My plan is to walk in the cool of the 
morning, and to ride in the heat of the day. 

"If we had plenty of ammunition, we might 
have doves to eat every day. Up here in the Bur- 
man country they are very tame indeed. But our 
ammunition is so scarce, that we must use it 
sparingly. 

" I have a wonderful appetite. When we first 
started, Bro. Cushing used to ask me why I ate so 
little ? but his queries have ceased. I am in excel- 
lent health, and 1 think much stronger than before 



A Formidable Visitor. 219 

I started. As we are in the jungle to-night, we 
shall probably not have any visitors. And now I 
will stop and take dinner ; and not very long after 
that we shall have prayers, and I shall lie down 

to rest 

" We expect to take a somewhat different route 
from that which we had thought of before ; of 
which I will tell you hereafter. With love, more 
than I can tell, I am Your own husband. 

" Tuesday morning, Dec. Ylth. — We have now 
again stopped for breakfast ; and I will add a little 
to what I wrote yesterday. Last evening I was 
awaked about ten o'clock by a pretty vigorous 
talking among the men. They told me that they 
heard a tiger's cry close by the zayat. Of course 
they started up at once, and discharged a gun to 
frighten him away. We watched for a while, and 
soon heard some animal moving along in the 
bushes nearest the zayat. I think, probably, this 
was not the tiger, but a smaller animal ; however, 
we thought it best to fire. 

" It was arranged that two persons should watch 
at a time, and the rest should sleep ; and as I had 
not heard the tiger's cry, and should not recognize 
it, it fell to my lot to sleep. I was awakened 
again about one o'clock. The men had not lain 
down to sleep, for they were too much frightened ; 
and said that they had heard the tiger's cry once 
or twice some distance to the south. Just before 



220 A Consecrated Life. 

I awoke, the men had heard some animal descend- 
ing a tree near the zayat, and, recovering their 
courage, eight of them went out after it in the 
moonlight. Some of them took dahs and swords, 
one a gun, etc. I awoke in , time to hear their 
boisterous sally. They found two animals, which 
were probably a large species of jungle cat. I again 
went to sleep, and slept till about three or half 
past three o'clock. Bro. Gushing awoke me by 
telling me that the men said they had just heard 
the tiger not far from the zayat. I put out my 
head and listened, and soon I heard it, sharp, clear, 
and near by. 

" The cry is a short and rather low yell ; when 
once heard very easily distinguishable. It was not 
the so-called small tiger (the cheetah or leopard), 
but the real tiger. A gun was discharged, but the 
tiger did not seem very much frightened, for he 
twice repeated his call. Bro. Cushing discharged 
his pistol, and we did not again hear the sound ; 
though whether our unwelcome visitor had retired, 
or was still lurking about we could not tell. , 

" As I now knew the animal's cry, I took my 
place on the watch, one of the Shans keeping me 
company. 

" The men had been up all night, and had built 
fires ; and, because they had nothing better to do, 
had cooked their morning rice. 

" I took my gun, sat down by one of the fires 
in front of the zayat, and kept up the watch till 



Journeying toward Shan-land. 221 

It was a beautiful moonlight night ; 
the little space around the zayat was light, and the 
dew-drops on the bushes glistened in the moon- 
light like diamonds. I heard nothing more of the 
tiger ; but there were jungle cats, I think, about 
us, for I heard their cry, and there were occasional 
movements in the bushes about us. 

" It is perhaps 'unnecessary to say that I judged 
it prudent not to venture down through the jungle 
to the spring for my usual early morning bath. 

" We waited a little longer than usual this morn- 
ing, and did not start on until it was fully light. 

" We have made a pretty long march this morn- 
ing, but did not reach the place we had hoped. 

" We have seen plenty of doves, but our ammu- 
nition is so scarce that I don't like to use any of it, 
or I should probably have got something (for 
breakfast). I saw a barking deer as I came along. 

" While I have been writing here, eight of our 
men have been sleeping about in the zayat, and I 
think a good portion of the rest outside. 

" Instead of keeping on to the north through 
the Burman plain, we propose to strike off to the 
east from Bau-hlaing, a place which Ave expect to 
reach and perhaps pass this afternoon. To-morrow, 
therefore, we shall begin climbing mountains. We 
are to take the route to Merng-See-Keep, which 
little Shan State we shall probably reach about the 
middle of next week. We pass through the 
Toungthoo country on the way. The men are 



222 A Consecrated Life. 

getting ready to start on, and I must close, if I 
have an opportunity to send this letter this after- 
noon, I expect to do so ; otherwise to add a few 
words 

" Wednesday, 11 A. M. — We do not reach the 
first mountain quite as soon as we had expected. 
We are to pass one more Burman village first, and 
intend to go on and sleep at the foot of the mountain 
to-night, that we may be ready to start up early in 
the morning. I have walked a great deal and my 
pony is ready for hard work, if necessary. . . 

. . . . " Good bye for this time. Pray 
for me, darling, that the Lord may keep me and 
bring me very near him. 

" Your loving husband, 

"Edwin D. Kelley." 

" P. S. Wednesday afternoon. — We have come 
on to a zayat which was said to be at the foot of 
the mountain, but which is really quite a distance 
up. 

" We have had a delightful afternoon, have been 
following up the course of the mountain stream, 
on whose banks we breakfasted. It has been deli- 
riously cool, and doubtless will be cold to-night. 

" Our path has been somewhat rough, going of- 
ten up and sometimes down, and often crossing 
the stream. My pony slipped once and wet me 
some, but he does excellently. As you may judge 
from the stream, we are crossing a gap between 
two mountains. We sleep to-night in a bamboo 



Journeying toward Shan-land. 223 

zayat. Beside it is another zayat, or house, occu- 
pied by Burmans. Some of them were in this when 
we came, but they left it to accommodate us. 

" We have eaten dinner, and I am continuing 
my letter to you. It is so dark here between the 
mountains that we have already lighted candles, 
and it is now only a little past five o'clock. . . 

" We have not to-day found any good opportu- 
nity to send our letters, but I hope we may soon. 

" With a heart full of love to you, my darling, 
I will again say good night. 

" Your Edwin." 

(Journal.) " Thursday, IQth. — - This morning 
we started up the mountain, some of the way quite 
a steep ascent. On the way we met some mingled 
Shans and Burmese bound for Toungoo, and en- 
trusted letters to their care. About two miles 
brings us to the top, where we take a drink of water, 
rest a few minutes, and go on. The descent seems 
quite as long and nearly as trying as the ascent. 
At the foot of the mountain we take breakfast, 
and after noon cross the small plain from which the 
paddy has just been cut, following down the course 
of the stream, and stop for the night in a zayat near 
the foot of the mountain which we expect to as- 
cend to-morrow. Have come probably four laks, 
perhaps five." 

" Friday, 20th. — We are off in pretty good sea- 
son this morning, and going up the somewhat slip- 



224 A Consecrated Life. 

pery slope of a mountain, the Saik-poo-doung. The 
mountain is about as large as that which we crossed 
yesterday. Once or twice while on the mountain a 
fine view greets our eyes. 

" We see below, as it were,, a great white lake of 
fog, with waves lifted high, and stretching across 
the narrow valley from mountains to mountains. 
Above this lake the summits of the mountains 
stand out clear and distinct. In the valley be- 
neath the fog we faintly hear the sound of a small 
mountain stream, making its way down to its 
junction with the Sitang just below. The descent 
of the mountain through mountain-rice fields, is 
very steep indeed. We, of course, cannot ride, and 
are obliged to walk with the utmost care. 

" We stop for breakfast in a small Burman vil- 
lage on the banks of the Sitang, which we after- 
wards cross. The Sitang is here a swift but 
fordable stream perhaps fifty feet in width ; clear, 
and of a beautiful green color. The depth and 
swiftness render it difficult at least to ride across. 
I, therefore, cross on a raft, while my pony is led 
through. Soon after crossing, we pass some fields 
of mulberry trees. Two or three days ago we also 
met them. Silk is produced here to some extent. 

" At our breakfast-place, we are told that there 
was a village ahead ; but we very soon begin the 
ascent of another mountain, which, though not so 
liigh, is about as far across as the one over which 
we came this morning. We push on, hoping to 



Journeying toward Shan-land. 225 

descend, or at least to find water before dark, but 
are disappointed. 

" Night comes upon us, and we are forced to stop 
in the jungle, with nothing to drink except a little 
water which other travellers have left behind 
them ; and as we have no water to cook with, with 
nothing to eat except some peanuts, that we 
bought this morning of some Toungthoo traders, 
and some parched rice of which some of the men 
partake, we therefore build fires, arrange our 
sleeping places, and go to bed. The men are 
very much fatigued by their almost double clay's 
march." 

" Saturday, 21st. — We start about light this morn- 
ing, and after a gentle descent and a short walk 
in the valley, reach a well to which we should have 
come the night before. Here we stop and take 
breakfast, breaking a pretty long fast. After 
breakfast we go on, and after crossing a small 
mountain ridge arrive at a Toungthoo village. 
Here I am delighted to find the first apple-tree I have 
seen in the country, and also the first peach-tree. 

" After considerable delay in getting rice, owing 
to its scarcity, we again go on ; now taking our 
course northward along a long and narrow valley. 
We pass Toungthoos, men and women, working in 
their paddy fields; and also, as a day or two since, see 
a grove of mulberry trees, used for feeding silk- 
worms. 

" The Toungthoos here, many of them, speak 



226 A Consecrated Life. 

Burmese, but are not acquainted with Shan. We 
pass between mountains well-wooded, and abound- 
ing in limestone precipices, and finally begin the 
ascent of one of them. Gradually we wind up to 
the summit, and when we reach it we have left the 
wooded mountains behind us and come out upon the 
elevated table-lands and grassy ridges which char- 
acterize this region. A beautiful and extensive 
view is spread out around us. To the west, range 
after range of mountains, through most of which 
we have lately wound our way, meets the eye ; to 
the north and north-west, narrow valleys and rug- 
ged limestone peaks give a bold grandeur to the 
view, while beneath our feet, far down, we see 
the terraced rice-fields ; to the east, immediately 
before us, are the grass-covered hills to which we 
have just ascended, and two or three Toungthoo 
villages crown their summits ; further away, stretch- 
ing far to north and south, are the plains and hill- 
ranges of border Shanland ; while, as a land-mark 
to the eye, the white pagoda above Pwaylah is 
seen in the distance. 

" There is a cool, bracing breeze, and though 
wearied with the long day's journey, yet cheered 
afresh by the delightful prospect, we push on; 
and soon reach a Toungthoo village, and take lodg- 
ings in a zayat near a kj^oung beyond. 

" In riding over the last hills we found rasp- 
berries and pine-trees, and have oak wood brought 
to us for fuel. It is a cold night and we need a 



In Loi Ai. 227 

good fire, and plenty of clothes afterwards. Have 
come perhaps six laks. Are in the country of 
Loi Ai." 

• " Sunday, Dec. 22c?. — This cool day, almost 
like Indian summer at home, we spend at Loi Ai. 
Few of the people understand Shan. It is delight- 
ful to feel this fresh, invigorating air, and to see so 
many things to remind one of home. I saw plenty 
of crab-apples and a cherry-tree in a short walk 
this morning. I could but think what a happy, 
peaceful land this would be, if, instead of pagodas 
and monasteries, churches crowned the hills ; and 
if, instead of the kj r oung bell, church bells called 
the people to praise and prayer, and sincere wor- 
ship to the living God went up from humble hearts. 
God grant that it may be so." 

" Monday 23c?. — Left Loi Ai this morning. 

"Passed another Toungthoo village where a 
bazaar was held yesterday. Entered the country 
and city of See-Keep, and in the latter stopped for 
breakfast. Here, for the first tim^, the people are 
mainly Shans, though as Burmese is taught in the 
kyoungs, not very many can read Shan. It is, 
however, a great pleasure to be able to talk with 
the people. 

" We came on in the afternoon, and, leaving 
behind us the Tsaubwaship of Merng-See-Keep, 
stopped for the night in the Toungthoo village 
Koong Nyoo. Had an interesting talk with an 



228 A Consecrated Life. 

old man near the village of Pyang-Sa. Have come 
six or seven laks. 

" In the afternoon, when we crossed the Beloo- 
Khyoung, we had a view of a very beautiful water- 
fall. This Beloo-Khyoung is a comparatively 
deep stream, with rapid current, flowing often 
through gorges, and of a light green color, very 
much like the color of Niagara. 

" It is said to disappear beneath a mountain a 
few miles further down, and to re-appear again 
just before it empties into the Inlahyuwa lake." 

" Tuesday, 24:th. — We make a rather long 
morning's march, crossing a rough stony ridge to 
the eastward, and undulating country beyond. 
' " We pass along the banks of abrupt ravines 
washed out by the rains in the red earth and the 
soft rock beneath. We stop for breakfast under 
a little shade on the banks of a cold stream. 

" In the afternoon we make a rather long march 
over another ridge and then down into the plain, 
and reach the small village of Baunang ; fully seven 
laks from our starting place this morning. There 
is a Shan Tsaubwa,* a young man, to whom we 
pay a visit. The people are partly Shans and 
partly Burmese (or Hayahs) ; very few people 
come to see us, and we find afterwards that there 
is a great deal of gambling in the place, and be- 
cause of our royal order they are afraid of us." 

*Governor. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE company who returned from the Shan 
country brought the following letter to Mrs. 
Kelley in Toungoo : 

" Toungthoo Country, Dec. 21st, 1872. 

" It has been two or three claj's 

since I have written you, and I have so much to 
tell you. Here we are, darling, in the mountains. 
Beautiful views, bracing breezes, and cool weather, 
we are enjoying exceedingly. I have to-clay seen, 
for the first time since leaving America, apples, 
peaches, pine and oak trees, and raspberries. A 
day or two since we saw some raspberry plants of 
a kind, I think, which are not infrequent in Amer- 
ica ; beautiful blossoms, and large downy and 
rather flat berries ; we found no fruit on them. To- 

229 



230 A Consecrated Life. 

day we saw another kind which, as far as I know, is 
not found in America, with yellowish-white berries. 
To-day, also, we have had our first and most exten- 
sive mountain views, of which I will tell you here- 
after. We are now in the Toungthoo country, 
and of the people I will endeavor to tell you after 
speaking of our route hitherto. 

" I think my last postscript to the last letter was 
written near the foot of our first mountain on the 
evening of Wednesday, 18th. Thursday morning 
we started up the mountain. As usual, I walked 
in the morning, and so climbed the mountain. It 
being the first one, I felt it more than I have since. 
It was about two miles up and some of the way 
pretty steep. When we reached the summit, we 
met some people, like the Danoos, understanding 
a little Shan but more Burmese, who were bound 
for Toungoo and Rangoon. To them we gave our 
letters, and I hope that you received the letter 
safely. . . . 

" After sending off our letters we came down 
the mountain. Just at the foot of it we crossed 
another mountain stream, and entered a zayat 
where we took breakfast. About twelve o'clock 
we came on again, following down the stream, 
which we crossed nearly twenty times ; and after 
our afternoon's march, made our headquarters for 
the night in a zayat in a Burmese village. There 
was a kyoung here, but no one in it ; quite a num- 



Jungle Experiences. 231 

ber of small pagodas, and plenty of little idols 
clothed in yellow garments. 

44 We had a pretty good night's sleep, although 
the zayat was a little shaky, and pretty high up. 

"In the morning, after a short distance, we 
reached the foot of another mountain ; I walked 
up it without difficulty,* keeping ahead nearly all 
the way up. Shortly after passing the summit, 
we met a company of Toungthoos who were carry- 
ing produce to Niiigyan. We bought of them 
chillies, beans, etc., for the men. Some of them 
were also going to Toungoo and Rangoon. For 
quite a distance we went down and up, down and 
up, but finally came to the final descent of the 
mountain. It tvas steep. The ground (it was an 
old mountain rice field) was still wet with dew ; 
and not only could we not ride, but it was onty by 
sticking our heels into the foot-holes and going 
with great care, that we could walk down without 
slipping and falling. Pau Youg said that my pony 
did slip considerably, even without a rider. A 
walk of a few minutes after the descent was accom- 
plished brought us to a Burmese village on the 
banks of the Sitang, where we took breakfast." 

"Starting a little after noon, we crossed the 
Sitang, intending to go on to the next village. 
Ing Tah is the only man with us who has been 
over this route before, and he but once ; so that he 

*For years Mr. Kelley had been unable to climb a mountain or high hill without 
experiencing more or less disturbance in the action of the heart. 



232 A Consecrated Life. 

does not remember very much about the way 
ahead, while the information which the villagers 
furnish is often incorrect, or incomplete, as we 
sometimes find to our sorrow. We had expected 
to find the road lead through a plain, after crossing 
the river ; but in this we were disappointed. In 
fact we were crossing another mountain, about as 
large as the one crossed in the forenoon. We kept 
expecting the mountain to end, and that we should 
come to a village; but our hope was in vain. 
Finally we began to hope that we should find 
water, at least, so that we could stop before dark, 
and get something to eat and prepare for the night. 
But since crossing the Sitang we have found no 
water. At last darkness came on, and we stopped 
without water, as we were, built fires, ancblaid 
down to rest." 

" Tuesday forenoon, Dec. 24:th. — I intended, 
darling, to finish this letter last Saturday night, 
and made arrangements with Toon La to watch 
the ponies the first part of the night, and to wake 
me up to watch afterward. But he thought I was 
tired, and so, in his kindness, let me sleep ; and 
the consequence is, I did not finish writing to you, 
as I intended 

" Tuesday evening. — ... I fear that we 
may not have an opportunity to send our letters, 
but, nevertheless, will write, hoping that there may 
be some chance to send them. 

" We have this evening arrived at Baunang, Ko 



Jungle Experiences. 233 

En's former home. The Tsaubwa is a Shan, and 
the people partly Shans and partly Burmese ; but 
very few, if any, can read Shan. 

" We have just eaten dinner. I like pumpkin 
currjr, and thrive on it ; while we can get pump- 
kins, you need not fear that we shall suffer. 

" Some priests have come in, and are talking in 
Burmese. I will write, perhaps briefly, in order 
to have the letter ready to send to-morrow, in case 
there should be an opportunity ; but I am afraid 
I cannot send it to reach you before we get back 
ourselves 

" I trust, that, ere many weeks, the Lord will 
bring us together again. I will continue my story 
of our journey briefly. We passed a comfortable 
night, that time in the jungle. My rubber blanket 
kept me dry ; and I slept soundly, except when I 
was on guard duty. Early in the morning we 
came on ; and, I think, less than a mile from the 
place where we stopped, found a well this side of 
the mountain. There we had breakfast cooked, 
and broke our long fast. We then crossed a low 
riclge, and after a short march came to a Toung- 
thoo village. 

"The Toungthoo men dress like the Shans; the 
women like the Karen women, and wear ornaments 
around their legs, just below their knees, and 
immense silver ornaments in their ears. They are 
not very attractive in appearance. 

" At this village we wanted to buy rice, but as 



234 A Consecrated Life. 

it was very scarce, and the headman, living at a 
distance, had given orders that none should be 
sold, we had to wait, therefore, until an embassy 
could be sent to him. His consent was obtained, 
and the rice finally purchased. , 

" We started on northward, through the narrow 
valley between two mountain ridges. After follow- 
ing the valley a good distance, we began to ascend 
the mountain ; and, after a gradual and long-con- 
tinued ascent, we finally emerged from the wooded 
slope of a mountain upon a grassy ridge above ; 
and soon we had around us the most extensive 
view we have yet beheld. To the west and north- 
west were mountains — mountains everywhere — 
some dim in the distance ; and others rearing their 
precipitous cliffs and rugged summits just the other 
side of the valley near us ; below us, away down 
in the little strip of valley, were the rice fields, 
carefully terraced; to the north stretched the 
ridge on which we were, and others like it ; with 
two or three Toungthoo villages on their summits, 
not very far ahead. To the north-east, east, and 
south-east, stretched the extensive elevated plains 
and grass-covered hills and ridges of the Toung- 
thoo country and border Shan-land. To the south 
was the mountain up whose side we had just 
wound. 

"White pagodas, in the distance, marked the 
position of villages and cities. A fine, cool breeze 
fanned us, and we seemed to have come out into 



In the Toungthoo Country. 235 

a new country and a new climate. We rode on, 
ere long descending and crossing a mountain 
brook, from whose clear, cool water we quenched 
our thirst ; and then passed on, climbing a gentle 
slope. We passed through a Toungthoo village, 
and turned up the hill to a Buddhist kyoung, on 
the top, where we found a pretty good zayat, and 
encamped until Monday morning. I took the 
saddle from my pony, and fastened him to a pine 
tree. 

" The old priest, though he was not willing to 
hear religious conversation, was very friendly, and 
sent over a boy with a large armful of oak wood 
to keep us warm. That night I put on my vest, 
and used all my bedding, and yet slept not any too 
warm. One night since, in order to keep warm 
enough, I have put on my coat as well. (A vast 
difference between the climate here and that of 
lower Burmah.) 

" Sunday we had a pleasant day. O, that this 
heathen people but knew and worshipped the true 
God and Saviour ! How peaceful and happy they 
might be ! 

" Monday morning early we left this Toungthoo 
country, and entered the Shan State of Merng- 
See-Keep. We took breakfast at the city of See- 
Keep. The people are mostly Shans, but many speak 
Burmese ; and more read Burmese than Shan. 

"We tried to preach, and gave away some 



236 A Consecrated Life. 

books. May the Lord greatly bless the seed sown 
here ! 

" Monday night we stopped at a Toungthoo "vil- 
lage, and to-day have crossed one mountain ridge 
and several undulating hills, - and have reached 
Baunang. We paid a visit to the Tsaubwa this 
evening. He is a young man, and quite pleasant. 

" His palace is a common bamboo house, and, I 
am afraid, not altogether free from vermin, though 
I cannot speak with certainty. 

" To-morrow forenoon we expect to go on to the 
more important city of Nyoung-ynay. As yet 
we have not fallen in with any bazaar, * except on 
the two Sundays we have spent; and so we have 
not fared as well perhaps as we otherwise might. 
To-morrow, however, is bazaar-day in the city to 
which we go, and we hope to get there in time. 

" We learn that Ko En's relatives have recently 
left this place, and started for Toungoo. 

"If I send this letter, please give the bearer a 
rupee. 

" I think I shall not write again, as the letter 
probably would not reach you till after I do. 

"'..".. Good-bye: may the Lord bless 
and keep you ; good-bye, . . • . 
" Your loving husband, 

" Edwtk D. Kelley." 

(Journal.) " Wednesday, 25th. — To-day we 

♦Market. 



A Croivded Zayat-. 237 

made a long morning's march ; passing first along 
the plain in which Baunang is situated, turning 
into a pass between the mountains, ascending a 
little, then passing down a long descent into the 
plain : and, finally, traversing the plain, and arriv- 
ing at the city of Nyoung-ynay, which we reach 
about noon. As we come down into the plain, 
there is a small stream on our left, which we can 
hear rushing down its rocky bed ; but the principal 
fall we cannot see, only some of the lower rapids 
being visible from the road. Our general course 
is not far from east. 

" At the city it is market-day, and our zayat is 
thronged with visitors all the afternoon ; indeed, 
there is such a crowd that the zayat partly gives 
way beneath it. The Burmese-speaking people 
are perhaps more numerous than the Shan, and of 
the Shans many can read Burmese, while those 
who read Shan are very few. Many of the peo- 
ple are from the country villages, having come 
in to attend the bazaar ; some are doubtless the 
refuse of the population. The curiosity of all to 
see us seems very great ; and sometimes they are 
almost clamorous for books.* We talk and give 
away books until it is too dark to see, and we are 
tired indeed. We trust that these messengers 
may enter some villages, where they will be the 
means of much good. We certainly have had 
opportunity for earnest preaching of the Gospel. 

♦These books were tracts and Gospels of Matthew. 



238 A Consecrated Life. 

May the Lord bless it, and accomplish his own 
gracious and wise purposes. In the night, appar- 
ently for a considerable length of time, there are 
persons not far from the zayat, doubtless with an 
eye to our ponies. We have a light burning, and 
keep a strict watch all night. When I am on 
watch, just about midnight, a great racket is made 
by some one of these fellows throwing a stone 
against the gable end of the zayat. 

" This plain is lower, and much warmer than we 
have had lately." 

" Thursday, Dee. 26th. — This forenoon we go a 
little south of east, leaving the plain of Nyoung- 
ynay and climbing a long mountain ; then, 
descending a good distance, and arriving about 
noon at the Toungthoo village of Kyouk-teng. In 
our first ascent we have some fine views of the 
plain behind us and the Inglehyuwah lake at 
Kyouk-teng. Here we spend the afternoon ; wash- 
ing clothes, resting, and putting ourselves in better 
condition. Many of these Toungthoos speak Shan. 
We are considerably lower than at Loi Ai, and see 
no more pine or oak trees, and fewer apple trees ; 
the raspberry bushes still continue. 

"During the night, those who are on watch, 
report persons about nearly all night. The fre- 
quency of thieves is one of the most uncomfortable 
things in this journey, as it constantly obliges 
some one to be up the whole night." 

" Friday, 21th. — We continue the gradual 



Bazaar Day at Nam Khoke. 239 

descent of the mountain range which we crossed 
yesterday, going nearly east ; and finally emerging 
into another comparatively broad plain. Having 
crossed this, we arrive about noon at the city of 
Nam Khoke. It is bazaar day, and crowds of 
people are present. We enter a zayat near the 
bazaar, and are followed and surrounded by a mul- 
titude of men, women and children, who desire to 
see the white foreigners. It is a sight that few of 
them have ever seen, and they are very curious. 
Most of them are Shans, some Toungthoos, and 
there are a few others. Almost all speak Shan, 
and a great many read it ; and we soon begin to 
preach and give books. 

u They crowd into our zayat, and women and 
children come under and look up through the 
cracks of the bamboo floor to see. We soon go 
off on a visit to the Tsaubwa, a middle-aged man, 
who seems very sociable, and receives us very 
pleasantly indeed. On our return, increased 
crowds come into the zayat, and the floor gives 
way under the weight, and falls some four feet to 
the ground. The corner in which are our 
baskets and the coolies, and in which we are sit- 
ting, remains standing ; but, except our party, 
every person in the building goes down. One little 
girl, who had come under the zayat to look, is 
somewhat bruised, but not seriously. We move 
to a zayat some distance north, and out of the 



240 A Consecrated Life. 

city ; where the crowds do not, at least at first, 
follow us. 

" Meanwhile it has become late in the afternoon, 
and we have not yet had breakfast ; and our cook 
is down with the fever. We have one of the Shans 
cook some rice, and, with a tin of meat, make a 
very late breakfast, at, perhaps, three in the after- 
noon. 

" Bro. Cushing then remains at the zayat, and 
preaches and distributes books to those who are 
returning home from the bazaar, by this road; 
while, with one of the Shan Christians, I go back 
to the bazaar; and, standing in the shade of a 
great banyan tree, try to preach the truth, and to 
give books to those who crowd about. 

" Many listen quite attentively — and with one 
or two trifling exceptions, perhaps due to spirituous 
liquors, they are very respectful — being, in this 
respect, much superior to the Burmans and Bur- 
manized Shans at Nyoung-ynay. May the Lord 
bless the efforts here made ; may some of the seed 
thus scattered broadcast, bring forth fruit ! Prob- 
ably not less than three hundred books are given 
away during the day." 

" Saturday, Dee. 28th. — We made a good morn- 
ing's march ; mainly to the northward, following 
up the eastern side of the valley. We pass within 
perhaps half a mile of a bazaar, and stop for 
breakfast under a banyan tree beside a bridge over 
a small stream. 



Preaching the Gospel. 241 

" In the afternoon we go mainly to the eastward, 
across the mountain range, and stop in a zayat 
near a mingled Shan and Toungthoo village. 
The villagers tell us there are plenty of thieves 
and robbers about, and invite us to come into the 
village, offering us an empty house to stay in. 
Though the proposed quarters do not promise 
much in the way of cleanliness, we accept the 
invitation. 

" I think all the people speak Shan ; and many 
read Shan books. To many, or most of them, we 
are a strange sight, and they express their wonder 
and admiration at our faces, beards, etc. ; ask what 
medicines we put on our chins to produce such 
results — whether it is not difficult to eat, etc. 

" They listen quite attentively to the preaching 
of the Gospel ; and are very kind and pleasant. 

" Have come to-day six or seven laks ; passing 
pine, oak and apple trees, and other home vegeta- 
tion." 

" Sunday, 29th. — We wake up this morning to 
find white frost on the thatched roofs of the 
houses. 

" During the day we preach considerably to the 
villagers, who are very kindly disposed, but do 
not manifest much interest in the Gospel." 

" Monday, 80th. — This morning we again find 
frost, and also a little ice in a plate that was left 
outside during the night. We get an early start, 
and make a morning trip of three or four laks 



242 A Consecrated Life. 

across the mountains to the eastward, descending 
into the plain and city of Merng Pon, which we 
reach in good season in the forenoon. We find it 
to be bazaar day here, and in the afternoon in 
company with one of the native Christians (Ing 
Tah) I visit the bazaar. 

" We preach and distribute books, as at other 
places. The people, though more respectful than 
at Nyoung-ynay, are considerably less so than 
at Nam-Khoke, and not a few seem under the 
influence of intoxicating drink. Nevertheless, 
some listen with considerable attention, and we 
give away between two hundred and two hundred 
and fifty books, besides what Bro. Cushing dis- 
tributes at the zayat. 

" It is my turn to take part in the watch at 
night, but we are not troubled." 

" Tuesday, 31s£. — This morning we again start 
early, and go eastward, perhaps some three laks, 
across Loi Mauk Pha ; a long pull up the mountain 
and a rather steep descent on the other side. We 
have some fine views. In the ascent we see the 
ocean of fog below, and the mountain range beyond 
bathed in the light of the early sun ; in descend- 
ing we have, through a narrow valley, a fine view 
of the broad plain below. In the afternoon I visit 
the village near the zayat, and try to preach, and 
distribute books to the small company of villagers. 

" They listen quite attentively and respectfully, 



Sudden Termination. 243 

and quite a number, who are able to read, take 
books." 

Here closes the journal. The mournful sequel 
to the journey is thus related by Mr. Cushing and 
some of the Shans who accompanied him. 

It would seem unnecessary to remark here, that, 
during this journey, the gun was used to obtain 
an occasional fowl for their necessary food ; with- 
out which their health would have probably suf- 
fered. He was a good swimmer, and thought not 
of danger in entering the water. 

The following is from the journal, etc., of Mr. 
Cushing : 

" Wednesday, Jan. 1st, 1873. — This sad, sad 
day dawned amid mists, but Bro. Kelley and I 
were up and ready to start, at the first streak of 
dawn. He was in excellent spirits, and we chatted 
together gaily, as he led the way, gun in hand. 
We found hoar frost on the ground and admired it. 
We planned for the school during the coming 
rains. 

" We calculated the number of days that would 
elapse before we should turn homeward. We 
moralized on the new year, and when I wished 
him a Happy New Year, and said I hoped he would 
live to be three times as old as he was, he replied : 
1 You had better say four times, and then I shall 
live to be more than a hundred years.' 

" As we approached Nong Saweet lake, I said, 
4 They say Saweet means heaven;' but I little 



244 A Consecrated Life. 

thought that its waters were to be the gate through 
which his precious soul should enter the true 
heaven. 

"As water beyond Nong Saweet is scarce, we 
decided to stop there and breakfast. Accordingly 
I went with the coolies to a large banyan tree, 
under which there was a small bamboo platform. 
Bro. Kelley saw a water fowl on the lake, and 
stayed behind to shoot it. His first shot was 
unsuccessful, and he went around to the other side 
of the lake, where the water-fowl had flown. 
Firing again, he was apparently successful, and 
endeavored to rescue it by wading ; but the water 
proved too deep. At this, one of the disciples 
went to his assistance, and desired permission to 
swim out to get the fowl, but Bro. Kelley wished 
to go himself ; and, divesting himself of his cloth- 
ing, swam out, obtained it, and began to return 
towards the shore. 

" Meanwhile Ing Tah (the Shan disciple) turned 
to wring out the wet clothes ; but soon looking 
back, saw, momentarily, Bro. Kelley's head and 
hands in a strange situation* for swimming, and 
called out, 'Teacher, are you stiffening in the 
water ? ' (i. e. cramped) but Bro. Kelley answered 
nothing. 

" Ing Tah struck out for him, but Bro. Kelley 
sank, one hand for a moment remaining above the 
water. 

*He was lying on his back, and his hands were raised towards the heavens. 



Death. 245 

" In vain Ing Tali dived and sought for him, at 
the same time calling for help. 

" We all ran to the spot as fast as possible, and 
every man who could swim went into the water 
to search. All exerted themselves until they 
were thoroughly exhausted. 

" The morning march was long, the men were 
weary, and the distance which Ave had to run to 
reach the spot was considerable; nevertheless, 
the greatest alacrity was exhibited in trying to 
rescue my dear brother. 

" When we could do nothing more, I sent Sang 
Myat to the neighboring villages for assistance, but 
they were distant, and it was some time before 
men arrived bringing bamboos for making a raft. 
Two rafts were made, and the search continued. 
It was not, however, until four hours after his dis- 
appearance that the body was found. 

" The villagers refused to let us take the body 
into the village, or to the zayats near the kyoung. 

" We were therefore obliged to take it to the small 
bamboo platform beneath the banyan tree. 

"Although life apparently had long been ex- 
tinct, nevertheless we endeavored to clo everything 
in our power to resuscitate it, with the forlorn hope 
that the spark of life still remained.* This proved 
unavailing, and with sad hearts we made prepa- 
rations for the interment of the beloved remains. 

*It was not strange that Ing Tah, the loved disciple, cried aloud in his grief, 
" My father t my father, O, my father /" 



246 A Consecrated Life. 

We endeavored to procure a coffin, but it was im- 
possible. There is scarcely any wood in the region, 
and no nails. When a coffin is made, men go to 
the distant mountains, bring a log and hollow it 
out. This would have taken several days if the 
people had been willing, but they positively re- 
fused to do anything. 

" It was with difficulty that we could get any- 
thing to dig the grave with ; but persuasion, backed 
by money, prevailed, and the grave was carefully 
prepared in a beautiful spot under a large Mai 
Song tree (much like an oak), on the northern 
brow of a hill as it slopes toward the southern 
edge of Lake Nong Saweet. 

" It is a lovely place, having a commanding 
view of a vast rolling plain, bounded by lofty moun- 
tains in the distance. 

"As we had no coffin, I had the grave lined 
with bamboo, and spread my mat in it. 

" We then wrapped the body in a large com- 
fortable ; and as the sun was setting, we went forth, 
a small, sad train, bearing our loved one to his 
grave ; where, with a passage of Scripture, a Shan 
hymn tremulously sung, and a prayer in Shan, we 
left it in the keeping of Jesus, until the glorious 
resurrection morning, when, radiant with immor- 
tality, it shall rise again. 

" Servant of Christ, well done ; 
Rest from thy loved employ : 
The battle fought, the victory won, 
Enter thy Master's joy." 



T 



CHAPTER XIII. 

HE Board received the following communi- 
cation from Mr. dishing : 



" Thus has God come in his infinite wisdom and 
bereft the Shan mission. This providence seems 
dark and mysterious. We cannot understand it ; 
but we know that our God is wise and good, and 
though he does not show us why he thus acts, some 
divine purpose is to be subserved. Had human 
wisdom spoken, it would have declared that the 
mission could not do without our brother. He 
was so eminently fitted for the work here ; his 
linguistic talent gave him such rapid and thorough 
control of the language ; he wtls such a genial, 
devoted associate, and had such excellent plans 
for future work, that I felt that the Master had a 
long life of usefulness here for him. Less than 

247 



248 A Consecrated Life. 

eleven months ago I first grasped my brother's 
hand as he stood on the prow of the boat which 
brought him from Rangoon to Toungoo. 

" Within these few months he had made such 
marvellous progress in the language as to be able 
to conduct the school successfully, and preach 
intelligently to the people. His heart was thor- 
oughly in this work. 

"During our trip to the Shan States he was 
constantly talking to the Shans and distributing 
tracts, sometimes in the zayats and sometimes in 
the bazaars, repeatedly saying that he had never 
supposed that he could preach so much to the 
people in such a journey. 

" As a companion in mission work he had en- 
deared himself to me very greatly. Our views of 
the policy to be pursued in the Shan Mission were 
singularly similar, and our plans for mission work 
during the coming year were all laid, with the 
exception of who should be assistant teacher in 
the school, a question depending upon what an- 
swer should come to his request to the Board for 
help in the school, made before starting on this 
journey. I was looking to his excellent scholar- 
ship for important assistance in the revision of 
the Scriptures as I should translate them ; and he 
had agreed to go over the manuscripts as fast 
as prepared, and note for consideration such 
changes as should seem desirable to him. For 
this work he was singularly fitted by his rare 



To the Board. 249 

scholarship, and deep reverence for the Word of 
God. 

" As a Christian worker, Bro. Kelley was earnest 
and self-denying. Every department of labor 
here had his deepest sympathy and full coopera- 
tion. 

"Immediately on arriving he united in preach- 
ing in English, and gave his presence frequently 
to the meetings of the few believers here. His 
desire to see the great Burman field here supplied 
with a missionary was intense, and led him to 
plead with friends in America in its behalf. But 
his chief energies were devoted to the Shans, whom 
he loved with all his heart. 

" During the last rains he was burdened with 
the desire for the salvation of the pupils under 
his charge, and was much in prayer for this object. 
With a joyful heart he lived to see three of them 
enter the church of Christ, and to listen to their 
testimonies for Jesus to their heathen countrymen. 
He visited not a few of the villages, conversing 
with the people to the best of his ability, as well as 
receiving all who would visit him at the house. 

" Though his ministry among us has been brief, 
it has been powerful in holy influences which can- 
not die ; and I thank God that he was spared even 
so long a time." 

After receiving the telegram announcing the 



250 A Consecrated Life. 

mournfnl intelligence, Rev. I. D. Colburn thus 
writes Rev. Mr. Hopkinson of Bassein : 

" Rangoon, Jan. 23d, 1873. 

" My Dear Bro. Hopkinsqx : ' Be still ! and 
know that I am Grod. I ivill be exalted among the 
heathen. I will he exalted in the earth! ' 

" How authoritative ! How consoling ! The 
Lord of hosts is with us, even though he moves in 
a mysterious way, his wonders to perform. 

" Bro. Goodell and yourself will feel especially 
smitten in the melancholy fate of your noble 
friend and classmate, Bro. Kelley. Doubtless you 
have heard from other sources — indeed, I think 
Mrs. Stevens wrote by last mail to Bassein, as 
soon as we received the message from Toungoo ; 
but at the risk of repeating, rather than to keep 
you ignorant I will write. Br'n. dishing and 
Kelley went to the Shan country soon after their 
return from Rangoon. I had full letters from 
both just before they left, and a few lines after 
they had been a week away, just on the borders of 
the Shan country. Mrs. Kelley wrote me a cheer- 
ful letter Jan. 12th, saying that she had heard 
nothing from her husband since the last letter 
came from me, and longed to see him back again. 

" Last Tuesday night, 21st, Bro. Cushing tele- 
graphs from Toungoo — ' Kelley drowned Jan. 1st. 
Will write ! ' Short, but tells a sad story. It 
shows that Bro. Kelley sleeps in Shanland until 



From a Brother Missionary. 251 

the resurrection ; and that Bro. Cushing was from 
Jan. 1st to Jan. 21st, getting back to the stricken 
widow with the sad news. How lonely that re- 
turn ! What sad reflections of companionship 
lost; hopes blasted, and sad forebodings of the 
future ! 

" And the widow. Alas ! Silence is the most 
expressive sympathy. Words seem tame at such 
a time. She brought a jewel to Burmah and it 
has been sacrificed on the Shan altar — all fresh, 
and sparkling, pure and beautiful — how much so r 
none can know until the resurrection. 

" May there rise up in answer to the prayers 
which this event will evoke, fresh interest for the 
Shan mission and new laborers for that field. In 
those prayers the stricken wife has her richest 
legacy. God will not turn away from the bruised 
reed when only two or three are agreed in asking 
its protection ; but here, thousands will supplicate 
in her behalf, and we would unite with them in the 
prayer that she may reap largely the fruits of sanc- 
tified affliction. 

" A devoted husband, a true friend, a faithful 
worker and true Christian has fallen in all the 
strength of his young and hopeful manhood, and 
so far as human sight can ken, the world and the 
church have met a great loss. Bro. Cushing and 
the Shan mission will especially feel it." 

u From Rev. Mr. Hopkinson : 



252 A Consecrated Life. 

" Bassein, Jan. 21th, 1873. 

"My Dear, Mrs. Kelley: Yesterday's mail 
brought us the sad news of your great bereavement. 
Permit me as a friend by whom your husband was 
ever held near and dear, to express my sympathy 
with you in this most trying event 

" All who knew Bro. Kelley must mourn in 
unison, but those who knew him best must feel 
the blow most keenly. It was my privilege, as 
you know, for nearly three years, to hold almost 
daily intercourse with him as a classmate and 
Christian friend. During all that period he was 
ever the same warm, true friend ; the same faith- 
ful student, the same humble devoted Christian. 

" Of one trait, in particular, manifested in his 
intercourse with others, permit me to make men- 
tion. 

" His was, in an eminent degree, that love which 
thinketh no evil. If, perchance, a fellow-student 
manifested what seemed to be unchristian conduct, 
he was always ready to take the most charitable 
view of which the circumstances would admit. 

" He seemed ever to look, not upon the dark, but 
upon the bright side of a brother's conduct. I 
merely mention this, as one of the many noble 
qualities which impressed themselves upon my mind. 

" Of the high hopes which his friends enter- 
tained of him in his chosen work, I need not speak. 
The mission to which he gave himself has indeed 
met with a great loss. He freely offered his labors, 



Fragrant Memories. 253 

and, if need were, his life, in the cause of Christ. 
God, in his unsearchable but unerring wisdom has 
seen fit to accept the whole offering. We indeed 
mourn ; but with him the toil and danger are over, 
and the eternal reward and glory begun. 

" May we, too, serve our God with the same 
holy devotion ; and at last rejoice with him, that 
we have been counted worthy to do and suffer in 
the blessed cause." 

To the sentiment expressed by the brother in 
the preceding letter we can heartily add that 
among the combined Christian graces that made 
Mr. Kelley the godly man that he was, ever shone 
that crowning virtue, charity — he never spoke evil 
of another. If one, with whom he had to do, man- 
ifested a wrong spirit, he never censured ; the ex- 
pression of his face spoke not of anger or impa- 
tience, but of silent grief. And if subsequent 
allusion was made to it by another, the response 
from him was : " We will not speak of it, we will 
pray for that one." 

Of the lovely things in others he loved freely to 
speak, but of the unlovely things he preferred speak- 
ing only to Jesus. 

Rev. Mr. J. R. Herrick writes : 

" It is true, a laborer has gone to his rest ; but 
the fragrance of that life is left, and the memory 
of Bro. Kelley is^sweet and potent. By his death 



254 A Consecrated Life. 

he has spoken to more than his voice could ever 
have reached. 

" I remember that precious spirit. A bright 
genius, clothed in the habiliments of Christ-like 
humility and meekness. Now that he has gone 
home, I offer this prayer. ' Lord grant that the 
same spirit that dwelt in my brother may be found 



The following is an extract from a letter to 
Mr. Kelley's parents, from Eev. N. S. Burton, D. D., 
his pastor during his college course : 

" I think I can well imagine the grief that fills your 
hearts. I share largely that grief with you. If 
it had been respecting one of my own sons, it 
could scarce have startled or affected me more. 
Edwin was much like a son to me, and I shared 
with you the bright hopes which were entertained 
respecting his success and usefulness in his chosen 
field of labor. How suddenly have all these hopes 
been blighted ! Many, many, are mourners with 
you. All the warm friends of missions, many who 
did not know him personally, as well as those who 
did, are sorrowing over his early and sudden death. 
If we could not see it by the eye of Christian faith 
we should be compelled to say that it was a dark 
mystery. But faith can look through the dark- 
ness up to a Father in heaven, and through tears 
discern love and kindness beaming in his face. 



Fragrant Memories. 255 

" Though he is so early called away from his 
chosen work, he is called to his reward and his 
crown. We had not anticipated for him so speedy 
a triumph. The Master was so well pleased with 
his consecration and faithfulness that he has thus 
early called him to go up higher. I have always, 
since I became well acquainted with Edwin, felt 
that his piety was of an unusual kind. He seemed 
wholly consecrated to the service of Christ. His 
spirit of obedience was of the kind that never 
questions or hesitates. He seemed to desire only 
to know his Master's will and at once he was ready 
to obey, not of necessity, but heartily and cheer- 
fully. 

u You will not have the pleasure of reading 
from month to month of his work for Christ and 
the heathen, but do not doubt that God has 
other and higher work for him to do, to which he 
has called him. . . . 

" Much as he loved the mission work, he loves 
that to which the Master has called him, better." 

We quote from an article, written by the same 
writer, which has appeared in print : 

" It is no mere eulogy when I say that his talents 
and piety were of a rare order. As modest as he 
Avas talented, and as loyal to Christ and fixed in 
his purpose to live for Christ as the needle to the 
pole." 



256 A Consecrated Life. 

Rev. W. O. Ayer writes : 

" Skoivhegan, Maine, Sept. 23c?, 1878, 
" Dear Sister Kelley : ... As to dear 
Bro. Kelley, I frequently look at his photograph 
and live over again some of those happy days 
when we were studying together at Newton, or 
laboring on the Sabbath, in Bowcloin Square Sun- 
day-school 

" As a scholar, we all recognized Bro. Kelley to 
be our leader. His quickness to see through diffi- 
culties and the retentiveness of his accurate 
memory were marvellous to us slower ones. And 
yet, a more modest man I never knew. He was 
always ready to help whom he could, but never 
assumed to dogmatize, even when certain he was 
right and his fellow-students wrong. 

" The tributes paid to his marvellous intellectual 
capacities, by his teachers, that have appeared in 
print, are certainly just ; and none of his fellow- 
students would have any disposition to qualify 
them in the least. But I am better qualified to 
speak of him as an intimate and dear friend. Our 
Sunday-school work, in Boston, in the first and 
part of the second years of our course, naturally 
threw us into each other's company unusually. In 
the course of that work our faith was sometimes 
severely tested ; and many and long were the 
talks and studies we had together, on matters 
connected with our work. His faith in God's 



Fragrant Memories. 257 

Word was strong, intelligent, unwavering ; and it 
was his delight to converse upon the teachings and 
promises of the Word. 

"In social intercourse he was always genial, 
hearty, frank, pure. Many long walks and delight- 
ful rambles we took together in those days of 
study. A more desirable companion one could 
not expect to find. In conversation he was sensi- 
ble and entertaining. 

" Bro. Kelley possessed qualities of mind and 
heart that eminently fitted him for the work to 
which God called him. To that work he was 
wholly consecrated. He could not even think of 
accepting a flattering position in the college at 
Rangoon, that was tendered him, so eager was he 
to engage directly in the work of winning lost 
men to Christ. I well remember with what ardor 
he spoke of his desire to do this direct work, and 
no other ; and how relieved and contented he 
seemed when the Board ceased their solicitations 
that he should go out as a teacher in the 
schools. 

"His early removal from the work, upon which 
he entered with such zeal and promise of great 
success, is a deep mystery. But it shall be known 

hereafter Truly your friend, 

" W. O. Ayer, Jr." 

From Rev. Mr. Goodell : 



258 A Consecrated Life. 

"Bassein, Burmali, Feb.&th, 1877. 

" Dear Sister Kelley : I am glacl to be able 
to say a few words in appreciation of the memory 
of your late husband, Rev. E. D. Kelley. 

" We were fellow-students in the Institution at 
Newton during three years, and were intimately 
associated together, not only in the class-room, but 
in hours of recreation and of study. We often 
consulted together with reference to our plans for 
the future ; especially in regard to the foreign 
work, and at length made applications together to 
the Board, and were appointed at the same time 
to our fields of labor in Burmah. During all this 
period I can bear testimony to the uniform Chris- 
tian courtesy of his life, and to the high standard 
of his Christian character. 

" In the little trials, perplexities and vexations 
of life, and of student life, that sometimes test 
the Christian character as much or more than 
greater ones, he, without a single exception, so far 
held in check any feelings of impatience or ill 
feeling, that he might have had, as to prevent the 
least outward manifestation of them. 

" If there was anything that caused annoyance 
to himself, or to others, he was careful to smooth 
the rough places as much as possible. He was, in 
my judgment, in a remarkable degree, kind, 
Christian, humble. 

" In regard to his intellectual abilities, one needed 
only to be with him a short time, to learn that 



Fragrant Memories. 259 

they were of a very high order. His linguistic 
talent was acknowledged not only by his own class, 
but by members of the Institution generally. 
In any disputed questions of Greek or Hebrew 
construction, it was as natural and perhaps more 
so for some of us to refer to him, and perhaps to 
abide by his judgment, as we would have done 
had he been the teacher of the class instead of the 
fellow-student. 

" He was not known in the class-room simply as 
a good linguist. He was good especially in math- 
ematics, and in other branches of study. He was 
not satisfied with superficial reasons, but aimed, in 
the different studies, to master his subjects. 

"It was with reference to his linguistic taste 
that he was appointed to the Shan Mission, and 
prospectively to the work of translation. 

" Other places of importance were suggested 
to him, but none seemed so well to fit the man, or 
the man the place, as this. 

" When he went to Newton, he was undecided 
whether to give his life to the work of teaching in 
America or to go to the heathen ; but was quite 
clear in his mind that he must choose between the 
two. When, at length, it was settled that he was to 
go abroad, it was with the desire to travel through 
the jungles, and to preach to the heathen. So 
that after his appointment, when his name was 
mentioned in connection with the Rangoon College, 
he said to me, that, if he was to be a teacher, he 



260 A Consecrated Life. 

preferred to remain at home. Bat if he was to go 
to Burmah, he wanted his work to be especially 
that of preaching in the jungles. It was not that 
he undervalued the teacher's work — he recognized 
its necessity in Burmah as much as anyone-— but, 
for himself, he could hardly consent to that alone. 
He therefore entered heartily, with Bro. Cushing, 
into the work of translation ; because, in connec- 
tion with that, he could journey on the Shan 
mountains and preach, as he was able to do in a 
very few months, the glad tidings of salvation to 
the heathen. 

" In his death the mission lost a valuable laborer, 
a sincere friend, and an earnest Christian. We 
wonder at the providence that lost him to the 
work. It may be to teach us that God is not 
dependent upon any human instrumentality, how- 
ever valuable, for the accomplishment of his grand 
purposes of mercy in the world. 

" The same divine hand that took our brother 
away, can raise up other instruments for his work; 
and most earnestly may we pray the Lord of the 
harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his 
harvest. Sincerely yours, 

" S. T. Goodell." * 

The following is from the pen of Prof. E. P 
Gould, of the Newton Theological Institution : 

* This dear brother has since joined him in his heavenly home. 



Fragrant Memories. 261 

" Newton Centre, Dee. 6th, 1878. 

11 Mks. Kelley, Dear Madam : I have the 
pleasantest recollections of Mr. Kelley's work as 
a student. He belonged to my first class, and when 
the work was new to nie, and I needed help and 
stimulus from the students, I found what I 
wanted in him. It was both a necessity and a 
pleasure to work hard in order to teach suitably a 
man who was a scholar himself, as Mr. Kelley 
certainly was. He was thoughtful and scholarly, 
having especially fine linguistic tastes and acquire- 
ments, but also a wide range of intellectual gifts. 

" And Mr. Kelley's spiritual quality was as 
marked as his intellectual. The critical faculty 
had not in any way weakened his faith ; his Chris- 
tian belief guided and dominated his thinking; 
and his scholarship was consecrated rather than 
ambitious. 

" I was very glad that missions claimed these 
eminent gifts, for I believe that that work is not 
only morally highest in Christ's kingdom, but best 
adapted to receive and use the best that the most 
gifted man has in him. 

" And now that he has gone up higher, may we 
not believe that there is even wider scope for all 
these gifts ? 

" This might seem extravagant praise, and would 
be of most men; but I am convinced than no one 
who knew Mr. Kelley would detract a word from 
it. There is certainly no one among the many 



262 A Consecrated Life. 

students that I have had the pleasure of teaching, 
of whom I have a pleasanter recollection, or could 
honestly say more commendatory things. 

"Yours sincerely, Ezka P. Gould." 

Prof. O. S. Stearns, of Newton Theological Insti- 
tution, also writes : 

"Newton Centre, Feb. 11th, 1879. 

" Mes. J. B. Kelley, Dear Madam : My recol- 
lections of your husband, the Rev. E. D. Kelley, 
are very pleasant and very tender. It was an 
inspiration to teach him. His appreciative atten- 
tion, his tenacious memory, his accuracy of recita- 
tion, and his intelligent grasp of difficult subjects, 
were a most healthy stimulus to me. 

" I felt every day that I was rather a debtor to 
him, than he to me. There was an air of honesty 
and catholicity in his countenance, which com- 
manded confidence. And so teacher and student 
toiled on, mutual helpers in the search for divine 
truth. 

" When he left the Institution for the life of a 
foreign missionary, I felt that the world had a 
choice treasure committed to its trust. 

"His singleness of purpose, his devotion to 
Christ and his church, his facility in acquiring 
control over a new language, his felicity in winning 
his way into the human heart, his knowledge of 
God's word, and his general range of culture, com- 



Fragrant Memories. 263 

pelled me to believe that there was a great and 
blessed future before him. And there was — but 
not such an one as we anticipated. How much 
better ! Sincerely, 

" O. S. Steakns." 

Prof. Heman Lincoln, of Newton Theological 
Institution, portrays him thus : 

" Newton Centre, Feb. 11th, 1879. 

" My Deab Mrs. Kelley : . . . 

" Rev. Edwin Delmont Kelley was a member of 
the class that entered the Institution in the same 
year that I commenced my duties as professor. I 
remember well his first appearance, his ruddy 
countenance, his bright open eye, indicating great 
purity of heart, and his suppressed enthusiasm of 
manner. I predicted to my associates that we 
should find him an earnest student, with high 
ideas and noble character. 

" My hopes were never disappointed. From the 
beginning to the close of his course he was a dili- 
gent student, patient in investigation, thorough in 
method, and accurate in results. He could not be 
content without a mastery of the subjects pursued, 
and his zeal took on new freshness and force, as 
the range of study widened in successive years. 

" The singleness of his Christian character was 
delightful. He acknowledged God's right of 
ownership, and did not wish to limit the claim. 



264 A Consecrated Life. 

His talents, his attainments, his hopes, were given 
in loyal service to the Master, and life had no 
value apart from Christian aims. 

"The simplicity of his purpose, the spontane- 
ousness of word and act, and the constant fervor 
of his missionary spirit had a marked influence on 
the tone of piety in the Institution. We have 
rarely had a better religious spirit among the 
students than during his Senior year. 

"In common with many others, I bowed in 
silence to the Master's will, which called him so 
early from his chosen field of labor. I could not 
penetrate the mystery, nor doubt the divine wis- 
dom. The life was beautiful, but brief. To the 
Master's eye, no doubt, it was rounded and com- 
plete. The crown of faithful service was early 
won. I have the honor to be 

"Yours very truly, 

" Heman Lincoln." 

Rev. Dr. Murdock, Foreign Secretary, writes to 
the Missionary Magazine : 

" Mr. Kelley was a good scholar, and possessed a 
remarkable aptness for the acquisition of languages. 
He was also a well-educated theologian, and a 
devout, earnest Christian. He was modest and 
firm in following his convictions ; a man of sound 
and discriminating views of truth, and of much 
promise as a missionary. His death is a sore trial 
to our faith, but the Lord has done it ! May he 



Fragrant Memories. 265 

not mean by this event to rebuke the indifference 
of so many young men in behalf of missions? 
Who hears in it the call of God to take the place 
thus made vacant ? " 

Rev. A. Bunker, one of his missionary brethren 
at Toungoo, writes : 

" Somerville, Mass., Mar. 24:th, 1879. 

" My Dear Mks. Kelley : I well remember 
with what pleasure we welcomed yourself and Mr. 
Kelley, your lamented husband, to our working 
forces in Toungoo. We were at once strengthened 
and comforted in our trying work. Especially did 
Mr. Kelley's hopeful and cheerful spirit, which we 
soon found was the fruit of his strong faith, give 
us new strength. 

" His cheerfulness was, to me, a marked feature 
in his character. I never saw him discouraged or 
cast clown, even in the most trying circumstances. 
He seemed scarcely to heed difficulties which would 
have given a serious check to others of less faith. 

" I was impressed in my association with him, 
that, whether he were confronted by solid brick 
walls, or his way lay through beautiful and open 
plains, it would be all the same to him. If he felt 
it to be .God's will that he should go on, go he 
would, whether the way seemed easy or not. 

" Bro. Kelley was a man peculiarly adapted to 
live at peace with the most crooked of his brethren, 
on account of his peculiarly happy disposition. I 
am confident, had he lived, that every one but the 



266 A Consecrated Life. 

enemies of Christ would have found it hard to 
break the peace with him. His compassion and 
love were more easily provoked than his wrath. 

" On one occasion, when especially tried, I 
expected to see some manifestations of an indig- 
nant spirit ; but he quietly remarked, ' Let people 
do just as they want to, and then there will be 
no quarrelling.' 

" Our association, during our brief vacations ' on 
the hill,' was very pleasant. I there learned how 
genial, how noble-hearted he was. In our many 
morning excursions, through the jungles, after rare 
plants and wild game, Bro. Kelley, in our conver- 
sations, revealed more particularly his noble soul 
and high aspirations for work in the kingdom of 
Christ. 

" The peculiar zest with which he entered into 
these expeditions for discovery in the jungle, was 
only equelled by his earnest and continued applica- 
tion to the mastery of the Shan language, which 
he was then studying. Here he showed talents of 
the first order ; and, if he had lived, would doubt- 
less have taken rank with the first linguists 
among our missionaries. 

"We loved him, and now honor his memory. 
Just when we had begun to lean on him, God took 
him — an inscrutable providence, but none the less 
wise. 

" His memory will ever be present with me, as 
the brief visit of one whom, in a very short time, 



Fragrant Memories. 267 

I learned to love as a brother ; and in the promise 
of whose life I hoped much for the future of the 
Shan race. 

"May his life teach us the lesson we should 
learn. A. Bunker." 

In the closing letter, from the Rev. J. N. Crush- 
ing, we learn how he spent the last night of his 
life on earth : 

" Bhamo, March 9th, 1877. 
" My Dear Mrs. Kelley : — ... I never 
have ceased to mourn the loss which the Shan 
Mission sustained in the death of your husband. 
Four years have passed since that sad event, and 
no one has arisen to take his place, which became 
so suddenly vacant, through an inscrutable provi- 
dence. The facility with which he acquired the 
language, his ready sympathy with the natives, 
and, above all, his ardent love for Christ, made 
him peculiarly fitted for that pioneer evangelistic 
work which he chose for himself. I was much 
impressed with the decision and eagerness with 
which he sought this form of service. Referring 
once to the fact that he had been offered a place 
in connection with one of the educational institu- 
tions of the mission at Rangoon, he said, that, 
important as was the education of the natives, he 
could be satisfied with nothing but the direct 
preaching of the Gospel to the people, and esteemed 



268 A Consecrated Life. 

it a great privilege that God liad called him to 
work in the 'regions beyond.' 

" He possessed the genuine missionary spirit, 
which makes personal comfort of secondary 
importance. 

" His intense desire, often expressed, was to get 
into the interior as soon as practicable, and live 
among the Shans in their own country. This 
desire was uppermost in his mind, during our 
journey to Mone, and he hoped in some way to 
further its fulfilment, during his visit to that city, 
which his eyes were destined never to see. 

" From the time of his leaving Toungoo, until 
the time of his death, he was in possession of the 
best of health and spirits. He never rode his 
pony during the morning marches, and seldom 
during the afternoon marches ; but enjoyed keep- 
ing considerably in advance of the rest of the 
party. Everything was new to him, and the 
pleasure of the trip seemed to more than compen- 
sate for all the fatigue and discomfort inseparable 
from such a journey. 

" Sometimes I have thought that the unusual 
eagerness with which he sought every opportunity 
to read or talk to the people about Christ, was 
premonitory of his approaching summons to the 
better land. Although he had been in the country 
scarcely ten months, by indefatigable study, and 
the natural ease with which he acquired languages, 



Fragrant Memories. 269 

lie was able to tell simply, but intelligibly, the 
message of God's love to man. 

" At Ningyan, the first opportunity, of any 
importance during our journey, offered itself for 
work among the Shans. We were to remain at 
Ningyan a day and a half. The large zayats in 
the vicinity of the one which we occupied were 
full of Shan travellers, on their way to Lower 
Burmah. Taking Shan tracts with him, Bro. 
Kelley spent much of his time among these people, 
trying to give them some idea of the truth. 

"At Nyoungynay, we occupied a large, open 
zayat close to the city. Crowds of Burmans and 
Shans thronged the place, until the supports of 
the flooring partially gave way. We then divided 
our forces. Bro. Kelley took Shan tracts, and, sit- 
ting at one end of the zayat, talked with the Shans, 
while I took Burman tracts, and, sitting at the 
other end, talked with the Burmans. When night 
shut down and we were left to ourselves, he 
expressed his joy at the amount of work in spread- 
ing a knowledge of the truth, which it was possible 
to accomplish in one of these journeys. He had 
heard them spoken of slightingly, but all doubts 
of their expediency had vanished. 

" Crossing the mountains, and travelling about 
a day and a half, we come to Nam Khoke, a small 
city in a Shan principality of the same name. 
According to Shan custom, every fifth day, a great 
market is held in the principal town of each 



270 A Consecrated Life. 

principality, for all the adjacent districts. We 
found, on our arrival, that it was market-day, and 
a large concourse of people had assembled at the 
market-place. All the zayats were occupied except 
a dilapidated one, of which. , we took possession 
immediately. After the customary visit paid to 
the prince, we returned to the zayat, and sat down 
on mats to preach. A great number of people 
gathered about us, and, in the midst of the con- 
versation, the flooring gave way, precipitating all 
several feet to the ground. On account of this 
— the number of intoxicated persons increasing 
with the advance of the afternoon — we withdrew 
to a zayat just outside of the city, on a road that 
many of the people would travel in returning to 
their homes. Taking tracts, and a native Chris- 
tian for company, he went to a large banyan tree, 
and, standing under the shade, soon had an audi- 
ence assembled about him. On his return to the 
zayat he said, with much delight, that he had had 
unusual freedom of speech, and had been troubled 
only once, by two drunken rowdies, whom the 
people speedily put down. 

"The last evening of his life he seemed very 
restless, and anxious to be doing something for his 
Master. At dark, as usual, the people for the 
most part deserted the zayat and returned to their 
homes. Unable to rest satisfied, after the evening 
meal had been eaten, he took a native Christian 
and visited several houses in the village, remaining 



Fragrant Memories. 271 

out quite late. It was his last work for Christ on 
earth. The next sunset saw him laid in his lonely 
grave, on the hillside that slopes to meet the 
southern edge of Nong Saweet, while his spirit 
rejoiced in the presence of his Saviour whom he 
loved so fervently. 

" I pray that the dark Providence which sud- 
denly cut short a life of such Christian devotion 
and rare promise, may sanctify the event in some 
way to the good of the mission. He is not, for 
God took him. Believe me, 

" Yours sincerely, J. N. Gushing." 

From the memorial services which were held in 
the church at Ann Arbor, the pastor, Rev. Dr. 
Haskell, gives the following extract : 

SERVICES AT AM ARBOR. 

" Mr. Kelley's membership continued in Ann 
Arbor from his baptism until his death. His 
faithful spirit and ever ready activities had greatly 
endeared him to the church. And his devotion 
to the missionary work, and promise of great use- 
fulness in it, had coupled with this esteem, high 
and grateful hopes. 

" The painful shock which the news of his death 
gave in his parental home, was felt through the 
church in strong and lasting vibrations. The more 
violent was this feeling, because a letter from 
him, addressed to the church as he was leaving 



272 A Consecrated Life. 

for the journey in which death met him, had just 
been read in their meeting, and had awakened in 
manj r the interest and prayers which he solicited. 
On the second of February, therefore, the Lord's 
day immediately succeeding the reception of the 
sad despatch, the pastor gave a funeral character 
to the services, and preached a discourse of which 
the following is the text, and his recollection of 
some of the applications of thought. 

"FUNERAL DISCOURSE. 
"phil. I: 20. 
.... " ' Christ shall be magnified in my 
body, whether it be by life or by death? 

" Joyful and triumphant assurance of the apostle 
Paul, when consciously exposed to death for Christ's 
sake ! 

" This body may be worn to a skeleton in its 
fetters, may be dissevered upon the block, or dis- 
membered by the wild beasts of Nero's amphithe- 
atre, or consumed in walking flame on the streets 
of Rome ; but in whatever sufferings and whatever 
death, it shall be the instrument of honoring Christ. 
The constancy and victory which Jesus imparts 
to his obedient servants shall shine attractively in 
the living form, or speak movingly from its lifeless 
remains, and perpetually from its hallowed grave. 

" In any other view, the anticipated fate of our 
physical bodies is a dread foreboding, and the 
forms of our friends take on shrouds of gloom. 



In Memoriam. 273 

They suffer and waste in our sight, or are snatched 
away in rude suddenness to be found no more. 
Unrobed and uncoffined they are cast into the 
grave of the unknown ; or stranger hands adjust 
their sleep, where our love can never watch the 
bed. Ah, must it be so with the forms that we 
almost adore, the noblest and most important 
physical structures which God has made, within 
our knowledge ! How great our need then of the 
assurance which the apostle had respecting the 
body. 

" He who is bone of your bone, and flesh of your 
flesh may follow the flag of his country and fall in 
its defence.* But if, as Jesus said of his death, 
your soldier boy could say, ' Father, glorify thy 
name,' his martyred body, wherever it lies, has a 
blessedness, and is a blessing beyond what could 
be its lot in the embrace of friends, or sleeping in 
their sepulchres. The dear form may have been 
neglected or maltreated by men in the rush and 
passion of war ; but, phosphorescent in its decay, 
its grave glows with a light which inspires every 
patriot heart, and which the ages shall not see 
go out. And from that grave the resurrection 
shall bring a glory to Christ and to his martyr, the 
brighter for the suffering of this present time. 

" And now another face, made tenderly dearer 
because the face that used to be mated with it 

*The allusion is to the other son of the afflicted parents, companion in study 
with Edwin, who fell in the war for the Union. 



274 , A Consecrated Life. 

is gone, may be covered in the ground on the 
wild mountains of the far off Indian Shan-land, 
the head, more sacred because the hands of Christ's 
Eldership were laid on it in token of the call to 
preach the Gospel, ' not where Christ was named,' 
may rest with no stone above it, or Christian eye 
guarding it — but the grave has its peculiar honor, 
as marking a far-advanced out-post in our Lord's 
conquering progress. God shall watch it from the 
skies, and at the last day raise from it ' a body as 
it hath pleased him.' And you can rejoice in know- 
ing now, that Christ is glorified in that body, as it 
sleeps so far from all who loved it, 'under the 
Mai Song tree.' 

"He was not there for selfish ambitions, but 
summoned of his Lord to go up and sacrifice upon 
a mountain which should be shown him, and prove 
6 by what death he should glorify God.' 

" His gun was not the instrument of cruelty in 
a sportsman, but the necessary implement for pro- 
curing sustenance in the journey of the wilderness, 
whither the pillar of cloud led him. His tempt- 
ing the unknown water was not a reckless hazard, 
but a well calculated reliance upon the art in which 
he had long been proficient. 

" There was nothing in the mystery, to us inex- 
plicable, that was unexpected or disappointing to 
his omniscient Master. 

" He has glorified Christ in his body, just as 
Christ desired and designed. It is ours to say, 



In Memoriam. 275 

4 Even so, Lord, for so it seemed good in thy sight,' 
and to wait for the final opening of the records, 
when we may see something of the way and the 
degree in which Christ shall have been glorified 
in this body for whose fate we so sorrow. 

" This is not the first death among young mission- 
aries in Burmah, whose untimeliness and mystery 
have sorely tried the faith and resignation of 
those who gave them up to the work, and of 
those who were sustaining the work. 

" How many of us can remember that our first 
interest in missions, and our first tears over their 
history, were elicited by the Memoir of Harriet 
Newell, the beautiful, the angelic young mission- 
ary wife, who laid herself with such sweetness of 
loving joy in the first missionary grave, on a lonely 
island of the pagan coast, before she had begun 
her work. Who shall tell how Christ was magni- 
fied by that body, as her story went wherever the 
English language was read, and struck the chords, 
before untouched, of feeling and consecrated ser- 
vice, for the salvation of the heathen ? 

" The devoted Coleman was the next to lay 
down his young life on the threshold of his work 
in Burmah. The inquiry for his successor, which 
came from his grave, started Boardman out of his 
professor's chair in Waterville ; and the wonderful 
tidal wave of interest and enlisted service in the 
decade of 1825-35 followed. Boardman's own 



276 A Consecrated Life. 

early death, was a similar power acting upon the 
tides of missionary interest. 

" And the drowning of Thomas, in the Brahma- 
pootra, just as he came in sight of the station in 
Assam to which he was assigned, was a summons 
to the broken front which awakened a powerful 
response. Indeed, it made Thomas, as an imper- 
sonation of the missionary spirit, almost a kind of 
patron saint at Hamilton. His bower of prayer in 
the grove is still a sacred resort, and his devoted 
spirit that went so young to heaven seems breath- 
ing over the consecrated hill, inspiring the contin- 
uous desire to follow his example. Similar influ- 
ences followed the deaths of Comstock, Scott and 
others. 

" ' Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death 
of his saints.' The ways are many and have not 
need of our explanation, often admit not of it ; in 
which the death of the Christian's body glorifies 
God. 

" And as for this the Christian lives, for this he 
will not refuse to die ; nor murmur if his dearest 
friends are called to disappoint human hopes 
through such a death. 

" Sleep then, youthful form of our faithful 
brother in the church ; precious form of husband, 
son, and brother in family ties, and of loved com- 
panion in the student life, and Christian work, 
where thou hast been so prized. Sleep in thy far- 
off solitude, the days of thy appointed time, till thy 



In Memoriam. 277 

change come. Then thy Redeemer shall call and 
thou shalt answer. 

" And may the impressive grave send over not 
in vain, its silent calls for other laborers to go 
forth and reap where our brother has begun the 
sowing. And may the wild men for whose souls 
he gave his life, as they range their mountain land, 
ever learn who sleeps in the little mound by their 
path ; what love, and what a message brought him 
to seek them, and pause to receive the silent ser- 
mons that will speak up to them from his ashen 
lips. And when a Christian civilization shall 
spread its culture over mountain, lake, shore and 
plain, and Sabbath bells, and schools bells, and 
signals of industry, shall greet each other from 
village to village, and be answered in the Christian 
homes of a redeemed people ; then shall this grave 
be held in honor, such as no Westminster Abbey 
can give, or monument of wealth command." 



His little daughter, Edwinna Delmont, died in 
Toungoo, June 26th, 1873, and was buried in the 
cemetery of that city. Aged 18 days. 



WORD PICTURES. Thoughts and Descriptions from Popu- 
lar Authors. Boston : D. L.othrop & Co. Illustrated, Price 
SI. 75.- Gilt edges, $2.00. 

This volume is inscribed by the author to " the Memory of My Beloved 
Mother, Margaret Guthrie Strohm, and of the happy days when we read to- 
gether." A note of acknowledgment to the authors and the publishers rep- 
resented, answers as a preface to this compilation. One hundred authors are 
quoted, among whom many are well-known to all, as Grace Aguilar, Louisa 
M. Alcott, Charlotte Bronte, Bulwer, Dickens, Disraeli, Amanda M. Doug- 
lass, Edward Everett Hale, Hawthorne, Victor Hugo, Jean Ingelow, Eliza- 
beth Stuart Phelps, Charles Reade, Mrs. Stowe, and Bayard Taylor. There 
is no lack of deep meanings in this collection, and of course all the popular 
authors could not be represented in a small volume. Forty-two pages of the 
three hundred and fifteen are devoted to various subjects under the title 
" Thoughts," The remaining pages are classed '* Descriptions and Scenes." 
Soma selections seem to be chosen to illustrate certain styles of picturesque 
narrative and are allotted several pages, while others are terse enough to be 
contained in a few lines. Dickens is awarded the first place, and the open- 
ing thoughts are concerning " children." " I love these little people ; and it 
is not a slight thing when they who are so fresh from God love us," 

Here is something for the educators of women, by George MacDonald : 
" Men like women to reflect them ; but the woman who can only reflect a 
man and is nothing in herself will never be of much service to him." 

This is a picture, sure enough, from Mrs. Whitney : " She was like a 
breeze that set everything fluttering, and left the whole house freshened after 
she had passed on." 

Here some " Words of Truth," by Miss Alcott, bear profound philosophy. 
" It is an excellent plan to have some place where we can go to be quiet 
when things vex or grieve us. There are a good many hard times in this life 
of ours, but we can always bear them if we ask help in the right way." 

One more selection from the. short speeches must suffice; "No life is all 
sunshine, nor was it so intended. And yet I think, God doesn't mean us to 
fear the future. We are to take up daily events with hopeful hrarts and shape 
them into a higher form than crude fragments." 

Such a book is invaluable in its influence on young people who are just 
forming their ideas of life. Many of the longer sketches are convenient to 
take up when one feels like reading, but cannot endure a continuous effort 
of the mind. A sick person, on recovering enough to be entertained with 
short readings, would be greatly delighted by judicious use of this attractive 
kind of medicine for the mind — The Liberal Christian. 



A Moment's Chat icith our Friends. 



We take pleasure in offering our patrons a finer and more 
varied assortment of Juveniles and Holiday Books for 1876-77 
than in any year heretofore. In presenting our catalogue, 
we would add that, in regard to Children's Books, there is 
one happy word to say: the easiest, surest way to prevent 
the formation of a desire for evil literature has been found 
to place in the little hands book upon book known to be pure 
and strong in influence, pure and vivid in impression, pure 
and fascinating in interest. Still, the parents who set out 
to do this are largely dependent upon what their Publish- 
ers and Booksellers set before them. In our latest selection 

of books, we have borne the welfare of the young people 
constantly in mind, from the young men and women, down 
to the little folks in the Primary schools. There are, for 
these " dots," whose tastes the parents can reasonably hope 
to shape, some exquisite little " Libraries, " in tasteful boxes. 
There is no way to render a little one so completely happy 
as to give it a box of books to be all its own. With these 
arranged upon a swing bookshelf — and no child's room 
should be considered furnished without a book-shelf — the 
child feels that it has a library; and by no other method is 
it possible to teach a child the use, the proper care, and the 
value, of books. In the matter of price these tiny " Li- 
braries suit all purses. The L arge Print Library, 6 vols. , 
Illustrated, Cloth Bound, Chromo sides, $2.40. Charming 
Story Library, exquisitely bound, 6 vols., §3.00. Boys' 
Holiday Library, Girls' Holiday Library, each 6 
vols., §3.00 each. The True Stories Library, 12 vols., 
§2.40. This library comprises twelve tiny volumes, dainty 
in gray cloth, embossed with black, lighted up with gay 
chromos. The Pansy Picture Library, 4 vols., §3.00, is 
exquisite in paper, printing, illustrations and binding. For 
the very small folks in the nursery there are four merry 
books, with big print, full-page pictures, and gay, cloth- 
lined covers, Madame Mobcap, Merry Mice, Tony and 
Wlnket's Valentine. With the same care the Holi- 
day Gift-books have been selected. Gift-books hold a place 
for years upon the shelf and table ; and the Wide Awake 



A Moment's Chat with our Friends. 



Pleasure Book, Pansy's Picture Book, Pictures for 
our Darlings, Two Fortune Seekers, Word Pictures, 
each deserve a permanent niche, being sweet and sound from 
the first page to the last. These are the work of our -fore- 
most authors, Bayard Taylor, Miss Alcott, Mrs. Whitney, 
Bossiter Johnson, Ella Farman, Mrs. Louise Chandler Moid- 
ton, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Mrs. B. H. Stoddard, Sophie 

May, etc. We also believe that we offer, in our List 

for Boys, volumes which may safely be read without first 
passing under parental scrutiny and excision, but which at 
the same time shall satisfy a boy's longing for adventure 
and his admiration for the stirring and the heroic, and shall 
leave him resolute instead of restless, ready for action and 

patient toil, instead of filling his brain with idle dreams. 

Our list for Girls is eqully wholesome and entertaining. 
We also offer for examination the Wide Awake Maga- 
zine, edited by Ella Farman, T>. Lothrop & Co., Boston, 
Publishers. This magazine is furnished at the low price of 
$2.00 per annum, post-paid. It is exquisitely illustrated by 
Sol Eytinge, Waud, Merrill, Jessie Curtis, Miss HallocJc, 
Miss Northam, Miss Humphrey, Mrs. Finley. Miss Farman 
is supported by a brilliant array of contributors, Mrs. B. H, 
Stoddard, Mrs. Celia Thaxter, Mrs. S. M. B. Piatt, Mrs. 
Moulton, Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, Bossiter Johnson, 
Charles E. Hard, Sophie May, Margaret Eytinge, Nora 
Perry, etc. The attractions for 1877 include a serial by 
Sophie May, Quinnebasset Girls, Good-for-nothing 
Polly, by Ella Farman, and Child Marian Abroad, by 
Wm. M. T. Bounds, of the N. T. Independent, the latter be- 
ing records of a little girl's visits to the Pope, Empress Eu- 
genie, Princess Marie Valerie, Madame McMahon, etc., 

illustrated with portraits. We shall show this magazine 

to our patrons with pride and satisfaction, and receive and 
forward subscriptions. We are also able to furnish a cat- 
alogue of Messrs. Lothrop & Co.'s choice publications, in- 
cluding 500 vols., upon application. We can cordially com- 
mend Messrs. Lothrop & Co.'s publications, for their whole- 
someness of tone, their power of entertainment, and their 
superior graces of style. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



BOURDALOUE AND LOUIS XIV, OR THE PREACHER 
AND THE King, translated from the French of L. L. F. 
Bungener, Geneva, (12th edition) with a Biographical 
Sketch of the Author. We think Messrs. Lothrop & Co. 
deserve the thanks of the reading community for the hand- 
somely got up edition of the ' Bungener Historical Series' 
they are now publishing ; it will prove a most valuable ad- 
dition to the Literature of the season. Mons. Bungenei 's 
writings, while possessing all the fascination of romance 
are pre-eminent for truthfulness. "Truthfulness in the 
design, truthfulness in the details, truthfulness from first 
to last reigns supreme in M. Bungener's productions." No 
author imparts a more vivid reality to his impersonations. 
Whether he conducts us to the splendors of Versailles, 
ushering us into the presence of him who pervaded all 
with his majesty, whether we pace up and down with him 
the Philosopher's Walk, listening to the eloquently pious dis- 
courses there ; or, whether we draw our breath trembling 
at the dread conflict engaged between the Preacher and 
the King, we yield ourselves to the magic illusion with the 
unreasoning, intuitive confidence which the truthfulness 
of genius never fails to inspire.' — Boston Cultivator. 

D. Lothrop & Co., have commenced the publication ol 
a series of historical romances from the pen of L. L. F. 
Bungener, a Protestant minister at Geneva. The first vol- 
ume of the series, entitled Bourdaloue and Louis XIV., 
or The Preacher and the King, has been already issued, 
accompanied by a biographical sketch of the author. This 
book has reached its twelfth or thirteenth edition in the 
original ; and its popularity is chiefly to be attributed to the 
fact that it presents the events of history accurately and 
faithfully, at the same time that it weaves in with them a 
thread of romance which makes the narrative as entertain- 
ing as it is instructive. The other volumes in the series are 
"Louis XV., and His Times, or The Priest and the Hugue- 
not," " Rabaut and Bridaine" and " The Tower of Con- 
stancv." Price, $1.50. each. — Boston Daily Journal. 



OPINIONS EXPKESSED. 



Grandpa's Darlings, by Pansy, author of "Three Peo- 
ple, " &c. Publislied by D. Lothrop & Co., Boston. 
Nominally for children, this delightful story can but in- 
terest anybody who takes it up. The complete delineations 
of child-life presented are more thoroughly done and more 
natural than were they placed before us in a series of paint- 
ings ; for here we have not only their looks, attitudes, cos- 
tumes and gestures, but what they do, say, think and feel. 
It is like going into the nursery and catching up the first rosy 
midget to kiss, when we read of ridiculous little Minie in 
her jollities. A story like this is just like home. You have the 
thousand and one phases of childhood right with you. There 
is not a boy or girl who can read, who will not pour over it 
with breathless interest. A prettier gift-bood for our young 
folks we have seldom seen. The pure, sweet morality which 
underlies all the narrative reminds us of the passage, " Out 
of the mouths of babes," &c, yet in no instance is the "wis- 
dom" strained or worded up. Pansy has done herself 
honor with her " thoughts." — The Golden Bide. 
Papa's Boy. By Mrs. C. E. K. Davis, author of "Little 
Three Year Old," " Miss Wealthy' s Hope," etc. D. 
Lothrop & Co., Boston. 16mo. pp. 183. $1.00. 
Mrs. Davis is a fresh, lively writer, with a knowledge of 
the tastes and preferences of childhood, and the skill to 
gratify them. Her books are always readable, the reverse of 
trashy, and reasonably sure to be popular. This one is no 
exception. The characters are all real, their adventures 
are all natural and healthy, and the whole book is quite 
suitable to go into the family or Sunday-school. — Morning 
Star. 

Barbara. By the author of " Silent Tom." D. Lothrop 
& Co., Boston. Price $1.50. 
"Silent Tom " is a work of great power and high moral 
aim; and " Barbara" is a worthy companion volume. The 
characters are drawn with dramatic power; the story has 
enough of romance and of startling surprises to hold atten- 
tion to the close; and moral instincts are satisfied by the 
fate of the various characters, and the whole impression is 
good. The volume is sure to be a favorite in the family and 
in Sunday-school libraries. — Watchman and Reflector. 
Word Pictures. Thoughts and Descriptions from Popu- 
lar Authors. Published by D. Lothrop & Co., Boston. 
This book is a treasure in itself, a casket containing a se- 
lection of gems of thought, at once beautiful and suggestive, 
culled from the writings of the best authors. The collector 
of these charming extracts has shown admirable taste and 
discrimination in the grouping of word pictures in such at- 
tractive form. — Baptist Weekly. 



THE BEST BOOKS. 



We ask the attention of those intending to replenisk 
jheir libraries to the new Sabbath School books of our 
own Publication which have received such high com- 
mendation from critics, and from the religious and 
literary press of the country. 

"At the commencement of their work of publishing, Messrs. D. Lothrop 
& Co. secured the services of those very eminent gentlemen, Rev, Drs. Lin- 
coln, Day and Rankin, as a permanent reading committee. The wisdom of 
this course is seen in the fact that D. Lothrop & Co.'s publications have 
already deservedly taken the foremost rank in Sunday School literature."— 
Watchman and Reflector. 

In addition to our own publications, we keep a full 
assortment of the latest and best books of other Pub- 
lishers and of Religious Societies, which we are pre- 
pared to furnish upon as favorable terms as could be 
obtained at the various places of publication. 

When ordering books for Sunday School Libraries, 
please send a catalogue of books now in the library 
state how much money you have to invest, and by what 
conveyance you wish the box or package sent. Cata- 
logues, or an assortment of Books from which to select, 
sent when desired. Having had more than twenty 
years' experience in the selection of Sunday-school 
Libraries, we believe we can make it for the interest of 
all who intend purchasing to correspond with us. Or- 
ders sent by letter will have our personal attention, 
thus saving Committees the expense of journey, in 
order to get good books, Address all orders, 

D. LOTHROP & CO., Boston, Mass. 



TRACTS. 



In connection with the Sunday-school Department, and devotionaj 
books, will be constantly kept a full supply of 

TRACTS AND LEAFLETS 

by our most prominent and earnest Christian workers. 



D. L. MOODY'S ADDRESSES AND TRACTS: 

The Second Coming of Christ. Hints on Bible Marking. 

Inquiry Meetings. The Way and the Words. 

How to Study the Bible. Regeneration, &c. 

ANNA SHIPTON'S WORKS — in fuU: 

The Waiting Hour. Watch Tower. Asked of God. 

Wayside Sen-ice. Tell Jesus, &c. 

MARIA BRUCE LYMAN'S 

Work and Wages. 1 he Secret of Strength. Snow Family. 

Our Pet. Happy Hour. 

TEMPERANCE TRACTS. By The Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union. 



Miscellaneous Tracts, Suitable for All Needs. 

THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF CHRISTIANS, 
THE AWAKENING OF SINNERS, 
And words of Cheer and Counsel to the SICK and DYING ; for the 

HOSPITAL and SICK-ROOM. 
LEAFLETS and LEAVES OF COMFORT; Sweet Uttle Leaflets, 
Poems, and Admonitions; so convenient and effective to speak a 
word for the Master, in our friendly correspondence. 
WENT AND TOLD JESUS. OUR HEAVENLY HOME. 

I AM PRAYING FOR YOU. 

THE STARLESS CROWN. 

THE CHANGED CROSS, &c, &c. 

TRACTS, by Frances E. Willard, and other popular writers and 
Sunday-school workers 

Are Published by 

D. LOTHROP & CO. 



MISS «TTTXjI-A. -A.. IEA»ST:m:.A-:N" is one of the most popular 
of our modern writers. 

YOUNG RICK. By Julia A. Eastman. Large 

i6mo. Twelve illustrations by Sol Ey tinge . $i 50 

A bright, fascinating story of a little boy who was both a bless- 
ing and a bother. — Bosto?i Journal. 

The most delightful book on the list for the children of the 
family, being full of adventures and gay home scenes and merry 
play-times. "Paty" would have done credit to Dickens in his 
palmiest days. The strange glows and shadows of her character 
are put in lovingly and lingeringly, with the pencil of a master. 
Miss Margaret's character of light is admirably drawn, while Aunt 
Lesbia, Deacon Harkaway, Tom Dorrance, and the master and 
mistress of Graythorpe poor-house are genuine "charcoal 
sketches." 

STRIKING FOR THE RIGHT. By Julia 

A. Eastman. Large i6mo. Illustrated . 1 75 

While this story holds the reader breathless with expectancy 
and excitement, its civilizing influence in the family is hardly to 
be estimated. In all quarters it has met with the warmest praise. 

THE ROMNEYS OF RIDGEMONT. By 

Julia A. Eastman. i6mo. Illustrated . 1 50 

BEULAH ROMNEY. By Julia A. Eastman. 

16 mo. Illustrated 1 50 

Two stories wondrously alive, flashing with fun, sparkling with 
tears, throbbing with emotion. The next best thing to attending 
Mrs. Hale's big boarding-school is to read Beulah's experience 
there. 

SHORT-COMINGS AND LONG-GOINGS. 

By Julia A. Eastman. 16 mo. Illustrated. 1 25 

A remarkabls book, crowded with remarkable characters. It 
is a picture gallery of human nature. 

KITTY KENT'S TROUBLES. By Julia 

A. Eastman. 16 mo. Illustrated . . 1 50 

"A delicious April-day style of book, sunshiny with smiles on 
one page while the next is misty with tender tears. Almost every 
type of American school-girl is here represented— the vain Helen 
Dart, the beauty, Amy Searle, the ambitious, high bred, conserv- 
ative Anna Matson ; but next to Kitty herself sunny little Paul- 
ine Sedgewick will prove the general favorite. It is a story fully 
calculated to win both girls and boys toward noble, royal ways of 
doing little as well as great things. All teachers should feel an 
interest in placing it in the hands of their pupils." 



'* IMIDCSS iF'-A.IE^DVX.A.IISr has the very desirable knack of imparting 
valuable ideas under the guisj of a pleasing story." — Tlie New Century. 

MRS. HURD'S NIECE. By Ella Farman. 111. $i 50 

A thrilling story for the girls, especially for those who think 
they have a " mission," to whom we commend sturdy English 
Hannah, with her small means, and her grand success. Saidee 
Hurd is one of the sweetest girls ever embalmed in story, and 
Lois Gladstone one of the noblest. 

THE COOKING CLUB OF TU-WHIT 
HOLLOW. By Ella Farman. 16 mo. 
Eight full-page illustrations . . . . 1 25 

Worth reading by all who delight in domestic romance. — Fall 
River Daily News. 

The practical instructions in housewifery, which are abundant, 
are set in the midst of a bright, wholesome story, and the little 
housewives who figure in it are good specimens of very human, 
but at the same time very lovable, little American girls. It 
ought to be the most successful little girls' book of the season. — 
The Advance. 

A LITTLE WOMAN. By Ella Farman. 16m. 1 00 

The daintiest of all juvenile books. From its merry pages, win- 
some Kinnie Crosby has stretched out her warm little hand to 
help thousands of young girls. 

A WHITE HAND. By EllaFarman. 12m. 111. 1 50 

A genuine painting of American society. Millicent and Jack 
are drawn by a bold, firm hand. No one can lay this story down 
until the last leaf is turned. 



WIDE AWAKE. 

AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE 

For the Young Folks. 

e2,oo^Ei^^.3srnsrTjnyL. postage prepaid. 
Edited by ELLA FARMAN. 

Published by D. LOTHROP & CO., Boston, Mass. 



It always contains a feast of fat things for the little folks, and folks who are no 
longer little findithere lost childhood in its pages. We are not saying too much 
when we say that its versatile editor — Ella Farman, is more fully at home 
in the child's wonder-land than any other living American writer. She is 
thoroughly en rapport with her readers, gives them now a sugar plum of poesy, 
now a dainty jelly-cake of imagination, and cunningly intermixes all the solid 
bread of thought that the child's mind can digest and assimilate. — York True 
Democrat. 



The $1000 Prize Series 

Pronounced by the Examining- Committee, Rev. Drs. 

Lincoln, Ranhin a?id Day, superior to 

a?iy similar series. 



Striking for the Right, 


— 


- *i-75 


Silent Tom, - 


- 


- 1-75 


Evening Rest, - 




- 1.50 


The Old Stone House, 


- 


- 1.50 


Into the Light, - 


- 


- 1.50 


Walter McDonald, 


- 


- 1.50 


Story of the Blount Family, 


- 


- 1.50 


Margaret Worthington, 


- 


1.50 


The Wadsworth Boys, 


- 


- 1.50 


Grace Avery's Influence, - 


- 


- 1.50 


Glimpses Through, 


- 


- 1.5a 


Ralph's Possession, 


- 


- 1.50 


Luck of Alden Farm, 


- 


- 1.50 


Chronicles of Sunset Mountain, 


- 1.50 


The Marble Preacher, 


- 


- 1.5c 


Golden Lines, 


- 


- 1.50 



Sold by Booksellers generally, and sent by Mail, postpaid, 
on receipt of price. 



BOSTON: 
D. LOTHROP & CO., PUBLISHERS. 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Sept. 2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

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Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
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